How to talk to your children about divorce:
- Provide an explanation of the divorce, and what it will mean for your children, in terms that make sense to them.
- Jointly communicate with your children.
- Tailor your language to each child’s developmental level.
- Nourish and preserve your children’s relationships with both parents [no “victim” and “villain”].
- Reassure your children that you love them, that you will always be there for them and that you will continue to jointly parent them.
- Let your children know that they are not to blame. Emphasize that divorce has to do with grown-up problems.
- Clearly and simply define which aspects of your children’s lives will stay the same and which aspects will change.
- Use the opportunity to teach your children life lessons about change and resilience.
- Carefully shield the children from exposure to conflict and intense emotionality.
- Never forget that spousal relationships may or may nor survive but parenting is forever.