What about the Children? Booklet

When you make the decision to separate from your partner, a thousand questions go through your head. And one of those questions is, "What about the children?"

• How will you tell them?
• What should you say?
• When should it be done?

At a time when you are most vulnerable and unsure of yourself, you have a most difficult task to accomplish: you have to tell your children that you are separating. You know your children will be hurt, worried, confused and angry, and it's the last thing you want for them but it has to be done, and you want to do it in the way that will create the least pain.

How your children will react to your separation and adjust to it will depend upon several things:

• how you cope with the break up and any ongoing relationships
• the age and stage of development of the children when you tell them of the separation
• the temperament of the children - for instance, whether they tend to be easy-going or are somewhat anxious.

This little booklet will give you hints for working through the minefield. It covers:

• how you can cope with the break up
• issues to discuss with the other parent
• explaining the separation to the children
• what behaviour to expect with different aged children
• what you can do to help different aged children
• ground rules for parenting successfully after separation
• issues of safety
• ten mistakes separated/divorced parents make

Order a printed copy of the booklet by clicking this icon

Note: this publication is not available in Queensland.