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What do kids need during a divorce?

by | Oct 20, 2015 | Child Custody, Firm News |

In addition to dealing with property division, child custody, visitation rights and other decisions when going through a divorce, Florida parents must also help their children directly. Each child will have a unique reaction to and understanding of a parents’ divorce. Tending to the best interests of the child can be done better when parents keep the emotional needs and maturity levels of different kids in mind.

According to Today’s Parent, early teenagers and tweens can have a good ability to talk about their feelings and ask questions. However, that does not mean that they will always want to do that. Parents should not give into what appears to be kids’ attempts to push them away. Remaining engaged is an important way of providing the security and reinforcement that kids at these ages need.

At the other end of the spectrum are children five years old or younger. They will have almost no ability to talk about feeling or even comprehend what divorce means. Their world focuses on them and what they need or will experience. All conversations about a divorce with young children should reiterate basic elements of everyday life like who will feed them breakfast and who will read them a bedtime story.

In the middle years, kids will grow in their ability to understand and process emotions. One concern for parents is that children of elementary school ages can be susceptible to blaming someone for the divorce. This person may even be themselves. Reassuring kids that nobody is to blame is important. This information is not intended to provide legal advice but general information about how to help children process a parental divorce in Florida.