Parents don’t usually make the decision to divorce without a lot of consideration. Once you make this decision, you’ll have to share the news with your children. In some cases, the kids may be perceptive enough to know what’s coming, but it can come as a complete shock to others.
It’s critical to ensure that you tell the children in an age-appropriate manner. Children usually don’t need to know all the information about the divorce, but there are some points that they should be told. Determining how to handle this situation is critical.
Tell them together
Plan to talk to the children when you can gather them all together. This can help to ensure that everyone has the exact same information. If possible, both parents should be there. This sets the expectation for the children that you and your ex will continue to work as a team to raise them, even though you aren’t in a romantic relationship any longer.
Choose the right time
Picking the right time to tell the children is another important decision. You should talk to them in a private setting when the conversation doesn’t have to be rushed. Choosing a time when they don’t have anything else pressing, such as final exams at school, is also important.
Provide factual information
Children thrive on consistency, so they’ll often want to know how life will change because of the divorce. Provide them with factual information, but be sure you don’t make promises you can’t keep. It’s better to honestly say that you don’t have an answer about something than it is to say something that won’t happen.
In some cases, it may be beneficial to have the parenting plan set before you talk to the children about the divorce. This can provide you with solid information you can share. Getting the plan together isn’t always easy, so it may be beneficial to work with someone familiar with these matters.