How Do You Break News of Divorce?

Dealing with divorce is difficult for every part of a family, including the children. Of course, as parents, you want to do all in your power to make the transition as easy as possible, even if it is a painful one.

One of the best ways to do this is by knowing the most suitable way to break the news of divorce in the first place. But just how can you do this?

Meeting Your Child’s Needs

Psychology Today goes over tips for parents intending to talk to children about divorce. Experts all have differing opinions about what may or may not work best. However, most of them agree on one matter: that it is better to tell children sooner rather than later.

Many parents falsely believe that waiting as long as possible to break the news will serve their child’s needs the best. They think their child deserves more time living a “normal life”, without stress. But the reality is, all this does is rob a child of the extra time they need to comprehend the situation and accept the changes that await.

Children who have more time to talk about an upcoming divorce and more time to work through the situation mentally seem more capable of forming healthy coping mechanisms. The ones who have less time tend to suffer from higher rates of anxiety and depression in the aftermath.

Reassuring Your Child

Of course, it is also important to reassure your child that they are not at fault for the divorce, too. Many children have a narrow worldview and will cast blame upon themselves with no other obvious place to put it. To combat this, reassure your child often that they are not to blame. This will set a healthier foundation.