How To Communicate With Your Toddler About Divorce

 Posted on March 21, 2017 in Children of Divorce

Getting divorced is an emotionally trying time for parents and their children, but being the divorced parents of a toddler brings unique challenges. While older children may feel guilty over the divorce, toddlers are at a developmental stage when they are too young to understand what a divorce is. However, they do know that their world has been disrupted because their parents are no longer together.

Because toddlers do not have the communication skills to explain their feelings, they are more likely to have behavioral reactions, including:

• Tantrums
• Sleep trouble
• Increased separation anxiety
• Behavioral regression, such as thumb sucking

While these behaviors can lead to developmental setbacks, research has shown toddlers of divorced parents can still develop normally if their parents properly communicate with them. 

Keep It Simple

Explain your toddler's new living situation in simple terms, such as "You will live with Mommy here. Daddy lives in another house, and you will sometimes live with Daddy." Do not go into detail about what days of the week your toddler will see each parent, because toddlers have a limited understanding of time. It is better to let them know the day of the visit.

Continual Reassurance

What toddlers need the most during a divorce is to be reminded that their parents love them. This should be done through actions as well as words. Make sure you are spending extra time playing with them and giving them physical affection during visits.

Develop a Routine

Toddlers thrive on repetition, while new experiences cause them anxiety. A change in their routines is unavoidable after a divorce, but you can try to continue some routines while developing new ones you share individually. Try to work with the other parent to make sure you can maintain your new routines.

Watch Your Emotions

Toddlers are perceptive enough to pick up on and mimic your emotions. If you are continually angry about the divorce and saying bad things about your former spouse, your toddler may start feeling the same way. If you find it difficult to control these feelings, you should seek the help of a mental therapist or a support group. Remember that your behavior is setting an example for your toddler.

Getting Custody Help

In order to maintain a healthy relationship with your toddler after a divorce, you need to have a regular visitation schedule. A Kane County family law attorney at Goostree Law Group can get the right shared parenting plan for you. Call today at 630-584-4800 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.fatherly.com/parenting-and-relationships/marriage-for-parents/complete-guide-divorce-toddler/