It’s natural for children to want their family to stay together. Talking to them about divorce can be very tough and stressful, but some tips may help:

– Keep the conversation with your child very clear, and start by expressing how much you love him/her and that divorce or separation will never change this love.

– Be age-aware by taking into consideration the age of the child and his level of understanding and maturity.

– Both parents should agree in advance on an explanation by telling the same story and avoiding contradictory messages.

– Too much information is not helpful and might cause confusion. Usually younger children need less details while older kids might ask more questions.

– Parents and kids see the divorce situation differently. Kids are very self-centered, what matters for them is to know how their life is going to be affected: where they will live, will they see both their parents consistently, if they have a pet who will feed him, who will drop them to school…

– Your child doesn’t want to know all the details about why you want to divorce, you can say something honest and simple.

– Don’t fight in front of your kids and don’t blame your husband/wife in public, this can make your child feel anxious, insecure and emotionally unstable.

– Give your child the right time to adjust and accept the new situation, always encourage questions and communication.

– Show your unconditional love, and explain to your child that your divorce is not his mistake or responsibility.

– Be patient and honest with your child, allow him to express disappointment or anger by offering your support and help