How Can You Tell Your Child About the Split?

Dealing with divorce already leaves you exhausted and frayed, and this does not even take handling your children into account. Parents going through divorce understandably have many concerns about how to bring the split up with their child.

Is there a “right” way to do break this news? Can you do anything at all to make the transition easier for your child, or help them accept the future they face?

No Right Way To Discuss Divorce

Psychology Today takes a look at ways you can break news of divorce to your child. They make sure to mention one important fact: that there is no “right” way to do this. They encourage parents like you to gather the information you can, however. Discuss things with friends, look up articles by professionals and read blogs written by parents who have gone through the same thing.

But you should remember that every child is unique, and what works perfectly for one person may not work for everyone. You know your child better than anyone else, so it is up to you to curate the conversation in a way they will understand. Do what you can to maximize comfort and understanding while minimizing the chance of information getting muddled.

Cooperating With A Co-parent

It also helps to work with your co-parent rather than against them. This is often easier said than done, especially in tense or difficult divorces. But this provides your child with several important things, including the reassurance that their parents will continue working together for their sake even in times of duress.

It also lets you collaborate on any divorce-related conversations you intend to have with your child. This way, you can monitor each other and provide the most accurate and unbiased information possible. This can ease their acceptance and help expedite the path to understanding.

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