Many skilled behavioral health professionals can help families deal with divorce. By consulting an expert and preparing in advance, parents can help their children better adjust to divorce and drastically reduce the odds they will experience an adjustment disorder. Parents can also help mitigate other negative effects from the psychological stress of divorce. Some tips on how to talk with children about divorce include: Explain the divorce in simple, straightforward terms the child can understand. When possible, parents should agree on how they should explain the divorce and have the discussion together as a family. Explain the basic logistics of the new arrangement, so children understand they will still see both parents. School-age children can benefit from seeing time with each parent on a calendar. For younger children, it might be helpful to use dolls or stuffed animals to demonstrate how they will spend time with each parent. Let kids know that it is okay and normal to feel emotions about the divorce. If children try to hold these feelings in, it can lead to greater psychological stress and long-term damage to their mental health. Check in with children frequently about their emotions throughout the entire divorce process. Be sure that children understand divorce is not their fault. Children have a worldview that centers on themselves. This is a normal stage of childhood development, but it can lead children to blame themselves when bad things happen. Reassure your child that the divorce is not their fault. Children may also need reassurance that both parents still love them and that they have not done anything wrong. Do not talk badly about the other parent in front of children. Many children feel a conflict in loyalty to their parents during a divorce, and parents can exacerbate this by inadvertently sending the message that the other parent is "bad." Trashing a parent can also affect a child's feelings of self-worth. Children understand that they are a composite of both parents, so if one of these parts is "bad," they might feel bad about themselves. Finally, talking badly about the other parent can discourage your child from sharing their feelings. Maintain an open dialogue about divorce. For all these reasons, many family court judges specifically order parents not to talk badly about the other parent in front of their children. Prepare your child before one parent moves out. Give them plenty of notice, and explain how and when they will be seeing the parent who moves out. This transition can be easier for children when they visit the new home, see where they will be sleeping, and understand the new arrangement. Allowing children to help furnish the new home or bring some of their belongings to the new home can also make this transition easier. Be sure your child has someone to talk to about the divorce. Many children are afraid to say things that may hurt their parents but may feel more open to discussing these difficult topics with a therapist or counselor. A mental health professional can help guide your child's emotions in productive ways to mitigate the psychological stress a child experiences during the divorce. Prepare for setbacks. Children act out in many different ways. Some even regress on development milestones - for example, a child might start wetting the bed again during the divorce. Do not feel discouraged. These setbacks are temporary, and families can work together to overcome them. Give yourself and your children space to work through painful emotions. Do not hesitate to get all the support you can during the challenging divorce period. Mental health professionals, teachers, and school staff are wonderful resources. These professionals have experience helping children through the many difficult transitions associated with divorce. Friends, family, and community can also help parents get the support to navigate these major life changes. Though divorce can feel overwhelming, no one has to go through it alone.