Nov 11, 2014

Divorce is certainly hard on you, but it's also very hard on the kids. Often, children think they are the problem and view mom and dad's divorce as their fault. Here are five tips to help with your child coping with your divorce.

No Badmouthing

Badmouthing the other parent won't help. You still have to remain a united front with the kids and at least avoid criticizing the other parent. This tip also applies once there is a step-parent involved. Don't badmouth anybody acting as a parent to your child.

Avoid Conflict in Front of the Kids

When you're around each other and the kids are around, do everything you can to avoid fighting in front of them. This will help to keep your kids from feeling stressed or confused. Co-parenting means you may have to swallow your pride or talk about it later. Whatever you do, avoid fighting in front of the kids.

Let the Kids be Kids

A common mistake divorced parents make is expecting children to make adult decisions after a divorce. This isn't a good thing, as kids need to be kids and shouldn't be responsible for taking care of adult things.

Don't Buy Love from the Kids

Even if you only get to see them a couple times a month, if you show off by trying to buy their love it will only lead to issues later and for the other parent. Gifts are great for the right occasion, but you don't want to become the "fun" parent because it puts a lot of pressure on the other parent and your kids will realize what you did when they grow up.

Fun is necessary

Even with a divorce, you should still have fun. Kids want to have fun and you need to help them have fun. This will help you and your kids let the worries go and provide a great stress reliever.

Use these five tips to help your kids cope with your divorce. Remember, they are kids and won't understand why mom and dad don't live in the same house anymore. Help keep the environment stable and make it easier for the other parent during this difficult time.