Seven Keys to Helping Your Children During a Divorce
There area number of choices parents need to make for the sake of the children’s long-term emotional well-being and the child’s ability to make their own romantic relationships in the future.
Here is a list of things that a parent can do to help their child make the best of a divorce or separation.
  1. 1.Give the children permission to love both parents.  The children are the ones hurt the most when one parent blames the other for the loss of the marriage.  Do not speak badly of the other parent to the child.
  2. 2.Do all you can not to argue in front of the children.  Find a way to have adult conversations away from the children, even if it means getting a sitter.
  3. 3.Create a schedule and stick to it.  Children thrive on predictability and fear changes in the routine.  
  4. 4.Follow through on commitments to the children.  Do not say you are going to visit Saturday and then not show up.
  5. 5.Make time to play and listen with your children.  Listen empathetically to their thoughts and feelings.  Be weary of your own stress rubbing off on them.
  6. 6.Consider seeing your own therapist, seeking co-parenting counseling, or providing child therapy to help the first year.
  7. 7.Know that children frequently wish that their parents will get back together again and frequently fear that the children are somehow to blame for the divorce.
 
 
Kent Campbell, MFT
1210 South Bascom Avenue, Suite 114, San Jose, CA 95128
(408)757-7323 & www.KentMFT.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kent Campbell, MFT © 2010
 
 
Counseling adults, adolescents, and children for the communities of San Jose, Santa Clara, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Campbell, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Los Altos.
Services Counseling Adults For Parents Counseling Children Counseling Teens Articles Resources Contact Information Counseling