Helping Kids to Understand Divorce
Books Are a Useful Tool to Help Explain Family Break-Up to Children
There are a wide variety of books for children that aim to explain the issue of divorce and help children to understand the feelings associated with family break-up.
Many children whose parents divorce find the experience to be difficult and emotional. Since the topic of family break-up can, at least at first, be hard to talk about for both parents and children, books can prove very helpful in explaining the situation and the associated thoughts and feelings to children.
There are a wide variety of books about divorce available and so it is important to find the correct one for the child in question.
Preschool Children
Two Homes by Claire Maurel (Walker Books, 2002, ISBN 9780744589252 )– a delightful and affectionate picture book about Alex, a boy with two homes. Alex’s Daddy lives in one home while his Mummy lives in the other so Alex has two bedrooms, two toothbrushes, two of everything. There is one thing that stays the same however, whether Alex is staying with his Mummy or his Daddy, he is always loved by both of them.
It’s Not Your Fault, Koko Bear by Vicky Lansky (Book Peddlers, 1998, ISBN 9780916773465 ) – an excellent book that answers questions many young children are afraid to ask about divorce and reassures them that their parents splitting up is not their fault. Koko Bear feels sad when his parents divorce and is worried that they are splitting up because of him but learns that his parents love him no matter what happens.
Ages 5 to 8
I Don’t Want to Talk About It by Jeanie Franz Ransom (Magination Press, 2000, ISBN 9781557987037) – this story explores the vast range of feelings that a child might have when they find out their parents are divorcing. When a young girl discovers that her parents are getting divorced, she imagines herself to be an animal which best identifies the emotion that she is feeling at the time.
Ages 9 to 12
The Suitcase Kid by Jacqueline Wilson (Corgi Yearling Books, 2006 ISBN 9780440867739 ) – a look at the reality of joint-custody life, this book follows Andrea as she makes the painful adjustment of being a child whose parents have divorced. Rather than offering instant solutions, this book charts Andrea’s progress as she attempts to adjust to her new situation.
Teenagers
The Divorce Express by Paula Danziger (Hodder, 2001, ISBN 9780340795392) – when Phoebe’s parents divorce, she has to move away from her Mum and friends in New York to live with her Dad in Woodstock. Every weekend, she takes the bus, the Divorce Express, back to New York to visit her Mum. A story that demonstrates that normal live goes on even after parents divorce.
The Divorce Handbook for Teens by Cynthia MacGregor (Impact Publishers, 2004, ISBN 9781886230576) – a straightforward guide for teenagers dealing with their parent’s divorce. This is a very practical book that offers exercise, hints and tips to help teens work through their feelings and understand their parent’s separation.
