Focus your attention on the child. You can't take away the child's pain. But the most important thing a child can get out of this kind of attention is the feeling that someone who cares is with him in his feelings, that he is not alone. You can facilitate this by gathering a group of dolls or toy figures and being with the child as he or she plays with them. This type of play is a more indirect but equally effective means of expressing difficult feelings.
Many children feel angry and helpless about their parents' divorce.
They feel the divorce isn't fair to them. Encourage them to get these angry feelings out by kicking a ball, punching a punching bag, jumping up and down in an angry dance or pounding clay. These kinds of activities can be cathartic. Afterwards, encourage the child to play a favorite game with a friend. Tears and sadness are to be expected and accepted.