How Can I Help My Child Cope With My Divorce?

How Can I Help My Child Cope With My Divorce?

Divorce is part of life. The Michigan Department Of Community Health (MDCH) reports that 20,759 married couples got divorced in the state in 2020 alone. While going through a divorce is always challenging, it can bring an additional level of stress for parents of young children. 

The good news is that there are proactive strategies that you can use to make a divorce as easy and smooth as possible for your kids. Here, our Michigan divorce lawyer highlights five tips that you can use to help your child cope with your divorce. 

• Spare Your Child from the Conflict—Emphasize that it is Not About Them

Children should never be made to feel as if they are the source of conflict in a divorce—even if you and your former partner are locked in a custody or visitation dispute. The most important step that you can take to help your child cope with a divorce is sparing them from the conflict. 

• Be Open and Honest With Your Child (Age Appropriate) 

It is often best to be open and honest with a child about the divorce. You should be willing to listen and answer questions. A child may feel uneasy—but that is normal. Of course, you should keep any discussions age-appropriate and maturity-level-appropriate. 

• Create a Sense of Stability and Routine

During a divorce, your child’s life may feel uncertain and chaotic. Try to create a sense of stability and routine for your child by maintaining their regular schedule and activities as much as possible. Stability and routine can help reinforce that a divorce is not the end of the world. 

• Try to Support Your Child’s Relationship with Other Parent 

When possible, it is best for a child to maintain relationships with both parents. Ideally, you will be able to encourage your child to spend time with the other parent, and make sure that they have the support they need to have a healthy relationship. 

• Be Ready to Seek Professional Support 

You do not have to figure everything out on your own. In addition to working with a Michigan divorce lawyer, you may also benefit from getting other types of professional support, including from therapists and child psychologists. 

Contact Our Clinton Township Divorce Attorney Today

At Iafrate & Salassa, P.C., our Clinton Township divorce lawyers are standing by, ready to help you and your family navigate the divorce process. We have extensive experience helping parents of young children find low-conflict solutions. Contact us today for a completely confidential initial consultation. We provide divorce representation in Clinton Township and throughout the region.