Health Tip: Talking to Your Child About Divorce

Suggestions for how to break the news

(HealthDay News) -- Breaking the news to children that their parents are getting a divorce can be quite difficult.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry offers these suggestions:

  • Don't keep the information from your child or wait until the last minute to tell the child.
  • Both parents should get together to talk to the child.
  • Speak simply, honestly and directly with the child.
  • Explain that the divorce is not the child's fault. Make sure the child knows that both parents will still be around, and both still love the child.
  • Be honest that this is a sad and difficult time for everyone.
  • Don't speak negatively about the other parent in front of the child.

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