Children experiencing these problems may need extra support from you. Learning new communication new skills and following these simple steps so that your child is less exposed to conflict, and reassured, will reduce problematic behavior and ease their stress level.

Issues

• May see things as black and white: one parent is right, the other is wrong

• May feel shame or embarrassment about parents’ separation

• May feel the separation threatens their own identity

• May feel need to overcome a sense of powerlessness

• May feel loyalty conflicts

What to watch for Problem No Problem

• Physical complaints (headache, fatigue, stomach ache)  •

• Intense anger, especially at parent they see as to blame  •

• Taking one parent’s side against the other  •

• Difficulty with peers  •

• Difficulty playing and having fun  •

What you can do to help

• Listen to child’s feelings and complaints without taking sides or judging

• Don’t criticize the other parent to the child

• Encourage the child to see good in the other parent

• Avoid fighting in front of the child

• Say positive things about the other parent

• Don’t pressure the child to take sides or make the child feel like they have to take sides

• Support the child’s contact with the other parent (if this is possible and safe to do so)

Issues

• May see things as black and white: one parent is right, the other is wrong

• May feel shame or embarrassment about parents’ separation

• May feel the separation threatens their own identity

• May feel need to overcome a sense of powerlessness

• May feel loyalty conflicts

What to watch for Problem No Problem

• Physical complaints (headache, fatigue, stomach ache)  •

• Intense anger, especially at parent they see as to blame  •

• Taking one parent’s side against the other  •

• Difficulty with peers  •

• Difficulty playing and having fun  •

What you can do to help

• Listen to child’s feelings and complaints without taking sides or judging

• Don’t criticize the other parent to the child

• Encourage the child to see good in the other parent

• Avoid fighting in front of the child

• Say positive things about the other parent

• Don’t pressure the child to take sides or make the child feel like they have to take sides

• Support the child’s contact with the other parent (if this is possible and safe to do so)

*The Section adapted with permission from Judicial Council of California (2014)

Contact Us:-
Company Name: The Center for Online Divorce Education
Address: 1005 East State Street, Suite G Athens, OH 45701
Telephone No. : 740-594-2526
Email Id: [email protected]
Website: online.divorce-education.com