Take time to do things together. Help the child have fun with familiar friends. Additional ideas about effective parenting and helping children deal with their feelings can be found in other publications in this series, Principles Of Parenting. While children are learning to cope with the divorce, it may be better to delay making any other changes such as moving, changing schools, or changing babysitters. Parents should work with the children's teachers and others who are in close contact so that everyone can help the children learn to feel safe and to express feelings about the divorce.
Children can and do adjust to divorce.
It often takes about two years to recover. Parents can help children deal with their feelings of sadness, anger, fear, and guilt. Here is a list to help you help your children. Mark the items you have already discussed with your children and that they seem to be comfortable with. Then complete the other items, and mark them off as you go.