What if the children are in different age groups?

• If there is quite a gap in your children’s ages, speak separately with younger and older children. Make sure to have the conversations one right after the other, as this will help prevent misunderstandings and confusion among the children.
  
• Use language that is appropriate for the child’s age and level of understanding.
  
• Keep in mind that children in different ages groups have very different abilities to understand parental separation and divorce. Their reactions to the news will also depend on their stage of development: younger children will not react the same as their older siblings.

Who should talk to the children?
What if the children are in different age groups?
Where and when should the conversation take place?
What you should say
What you should not say

Next Section: Responding to Children’s Questions