How do you help your children cope with their new reality following your breakup with your spouse? Whether you’re newly separated or already divorced, there are a lot of transitions going on your child’s life.
One of the best ways you may be able to help your child process those changes is through the magic of reading.
How can books help your child during divorce?
1. Your child can learn that others go through similar experiences with their own parents’ divorces. Simply learning that he or she is not alone in the situation can be a huge source of comfort for a child.
2. Your child can learn how other children have coped with their feelings about divorce. Children are great imitators. Sometimes all it takes is a bit of inspiration to help them find a way to handle their challenges.
3. Your child can learn new ways to communicate his or her feelings. Children frequently lack the language skills to fully express themselves. Books can help them find the right words to say the things they need to say.
In addition to the above, books allow children some distance to work through feelings that may be a bit raw or too strong to handle directly. Through conversation about the books, you or your child can address issues that you don’t want to take on directly, like situations involving an absent parent.
What are some of the best books about divorce for children?
Books like My Two Homes by Claudia Harrington can help children understand the fact that their parents no longer live together, while books like Always Mom, Forever Dad by Joanna Rowland and Penny Weber can help them understand that divorce is a very common occurrence. Older children might appreciate the humor found in books like The Great Treehouse War by Lisa Graff, which addresses the way that parents sometimes fight over custody and visitation.
Many child custody issues following divorce can be hard for adults to cope with, as well. During those times, you need to rely on your attorney for the legal help that you need.