Parental Separation
Great Wood’s Separated Parents Policy.
We all have arguments- how do you solve yours
Online relationship support for parents
How to help children deal with divorce, separation and arguments in parental relationships. Please see links below for useful information, advice and guidance.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/separation-and-divorce/
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/divorce/
https://naccc.org.uk/for-children/information-about-changes/
https://naccc.org.uk/for-children/wishes-and-feelings/
https://naccc.org.uk/for-children/videos-for-young-people/
Separation and divorce aren’t easy.
There may be bad feelings between the parents and their families. Children can pick up on this, which may confuse or upset them, or even lead to them blaming themselves for a break-up. It’s important to empathise with them.
To support children during a separation and help them with their worries, you should:
- remind them that both parents love them
- be honest when talking about it, but keep in mind the child’s age and understanding
- avoid blame and don’t share any negative feelings the adults have about each other
- keep up routines, such as going to school and having specific mealtimes and bedtimes
- let them know they can talk about their feelings with you – explain that it’s OK to be sad, confused or angry
- listen more than you speak – asking questions will help them to open up.
There are lots of ways to make it a bit less painful when talking to children about divorce or any other difficult subject. We’ve got more advice for parents in our guide for talking about difficult topics. https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/talking-about-difficult-topics/