Five Tips for Divorcing Parents

Divorce is never easy on kids, but there are many ways parents can help lessen the impact of their break-up on their children:

1. Never disparage your former spouse in front of your children. Children know they are "part mom" and "part dad" and the criticism hurt your child’s self-esteem.

2. Encourage your children to see your former spouse frequently. Do everything within your power to accommodate the visitation as frequent and continuous contact is required by law. 

3. If you are the non-custodial parent, pay your child support. The loss of income facing many children after divorce puts them at a financial disadvantage that impacts them for the rest of their lives.

4. If you are the custodial parent and you are not receiving child support, do not tell your children. Conversations about scarcity can feed a child's sense of abandonment and further erodes their stability.

1. If at all possible, do not uproot your children. Stability in their home and school life helps shield children from the trauma of their parent's divorce.