Separation Advice: 5 Tips To Help Your Child Cope With Change
With the rate of divorce and separation increasing in Indian families, children going through a family separation often feel they have no control in any area of their life and need a safe place to work through their emotions.
Here are 5 tips for parents to help their child cope with this difficult time of change and upheaval.
1. Listen to your children.
Your child needs to know they are being heard and that their thoughts and feelings are taken seriously. Reassure your child that it is okay to be angry or upset and that you understand those feelings. That you even feel the same way at times.
2. Provide your child with a safe place to work through their feelings.
Most children going through a loss, whether as a cause of separation or death need a safe place to work through their emotions. Consider finding your child a family counselor to work with or look into the Rainbows program or Up To Parents.
3. Offer choices where ever possible.
Children going through a family separation often feel they have no control in any area of their life. Look for opportunities to offer choices that are healthy. Such as what to wear, what to eat, or outings and activities.
There are ways to help your children cope with your separation
4. Don’t rely on your children for emotional support.
Our children want to see us happy. It is easy to turn to them for emotional support when they so want to help you feel better. Seek out support from your friends, family, or counselor leaving your child free to be a kid.
5. Above all – Do not engage in conflict with your ex-partner in front of your children.
Watching adults fight (or even hearing them bad mouth each other ) can cause serious distress sin children. Do not discuss your separation in front of your children until both parties can communicate without conflict. Be aware that children will overhear you, even when you think they can not.
The online Family Wizard Co parenting tool is a great way to reduce conflict and help your family communicate.
Divorce Tips & Tools:
- How Do I Tell the Kids About the Divorce? A Create-a-Storybook Guide – This unique book doesn’t just tell you what to say — it says it for you! Fill-in-the-blank templates show parents how to create a storybook with family photos and history to simplify this tough conversation. With therapist advice. Professionally endorsed.
- Smart Divorce: Parent Happy, Healthy Kids – Outlines a step-by-step holistic approach on how to help your children not to just survive, but thrive. The return of hope to your children’s lives is the greatest gift you can give them. Even if it’s been years since the divorce, it’s not too late to begin the healing.
- The Secret to a Friendly Divorce – The divorce book you want your soon-to-be ex to read. Your personal guide to a cooperative, affordable, and out-of-court settlement. It shows you a surprisingly simple way to discuss money with your soon-to-be ex without stirring up trouble and without making your divorce harder than it has to be.
