Encourage conversation
Do what you can to keep the dialogue?any dialogue?going between you and your children. One of the best ways to keep your kids communicating with you is to have conversations with them about everyday things too. If every conversation seems to be about separation and divorce, they may soon start to avoid them altogether.
To encourage conversation with your child, choose phrases or questions that require more than a one-word or yes/no response. Try, “What did you do at school today?” or “Let's talk about what we want to do this weekend.” to get a discussion going.
Here are a few more tips:
- Do not force discussions, particularly about the separation or divorce; always consider their mood and frame of mind?kids have bad days too!
- Appreciate their 'space' and need to be alone with their thoughts sometimes
- If you sense they are tiring during a discussion or “have had enough”, end the conversation and continue it at another time
- Reassure them that they can talk to you about anything that worries or concerns them
Make opportunities to talk
Listen to what they have to say
Encourage their questions
Answer their questions
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