PURPOSE: to help divorcing parents dealing with their children during that process.
THESIS: divorce is a challenge in life and children will learn to cope with it if they have their parent's support and love.
AUDIENCE: divorcing parents, relatives of children whose parents are divorcing or have already divorced, parent's seeking a change in custody.
MINIMIZING THE EFFECTS OF DIVORCE IN CHILDREN.
I - Introduction: understanding divorce.
II - Communication and divorce.
a. Parent - child communication.
b. Parent - parent communication.
III - How can parents help children cope with divorce?.
a. Infants.
b. Toddlers.
c. Preschoolers.
d. Elementary.
e. Preteens and adolescents.
IV - What do children need to hear?.
V - How long does the adjustment from a divorce take?.
VI - Conclusion: The road to a smoother divorce.
VII - Bibliography and sources.
MINIMIZING THE EFFECTS OF DIVORCE IN CHILDREN.
I - Introduction: understanding divorce.
Parents who deal with a divorce want to protect their children from the same stress and pain they usually feel. But avoiding the issue only increases the stress. Parents need to help their children understand that the entire family will have to learn to adapt to new schedules, new environments, and new ways of communicating. That way, the will begin to relieve some of the stress for their children.
Children's reactions to separation and divorce vary, depending on many aspects: the amount of involvement with the nonresidential parent; the situation before the divorce or separation; the residential parent's ease in adjusting to the divorce; parenting skills of both parents, agreement on child education, and discipline; approval and love from both parents; openness to discussing the divorce with parents; degree of conflict between parents; economic hardship; and other stressors, such as moving, changing schools, and parental remarriage.
II - Communication and divorce.
a. Parent - child communication.