11 Apr Helping Children Deal With Divorce

During a divorce, it can be difficult to think of much more than what is going on in the here and now. You are likely dealing with two different attorneys (yours and your significant others) as well as thinking about moving and figuring out what you are going to do with your new life. But what about when you have children? How can you help them navigate the divorce process? Assuming your divorce is amicable we are going to guide you with how to best help your children through the divorce process.

Helping Children Deal With Divorce

Children all over the world feel the sting of divorce every day, and unfortunately, there is no one definitive way to assist them. Children tend to react differently depending on their age, personality, and also based on how the divorce or separation transpired. Though it may seem like a harsh idea, many children tend to come out of these situations better for it since they go forward with the ability to deal better with stress.

The first thing to keep in mind whether you are going for joint or single custody is that you keep discussions to yourself. Nothing will be more damaging to your child’s psyche than seeing their parents at each other’s throats. They also do not need to participate in any legal situations if possible and are better off getting information after it has come to a resolution so that they do not worry about things. The next thing to keep in mind is to keep disruptions to their schedule to a minimum. Make sure that you allow your children (within your ability) to continue to do the things they did before the divorce such as sports and other events. These activities will help them to keep up with their friends and keep their mind off of more challenging situations. The next most important thing to remember is that you want to keep all negativity out of the home if possible. When it comes to therapy sessions or talking with friends, this is best done away from children so that they see the best of what is going on. Finally, it is important that you keep both parents involved in the lives of the children if possible. By keeping the children involved with both parents, they will not feel as though they are being removed from someone and are not losing a family member. While they may not see them as much, it is important that if possible they know that they are there to talk to and have in their lives.

All-in-all it divorces from a child’s perspective can be every emotion on the spectrum if not handled correctly. If you are considering a divorce and would like to complete the process quickly, we recommend contacting a Rhode Island Divorce Attorney for a free consultation.