Kids Resources Place

Children: The Experts on Divorce

The link below will take you to a video where kids are talking about their parents divorce. The kids talk about what parents can do to help them and things their parents did that was not helpful to them. This is an excellent video for both kids and their parents to watch either alone or together.

Kids Rights

All children have the right to live in a safe, stable, loving environment. Read below to see what kids need and what hurts kids so you will know how to help kids "in the middle" of their parents' separation, divorce or remarriage. Share this with the adults in their lives.

What Kids Need

Kids need to:

Express love for both parents.

Remain connected to both parents' families.

Remain involved in both parents' lives.

Express their feelings.

Be in a stable, safe environment.

Remain a child and not a parental confidant.

Be told about family changes such as moving.

Be loved unconditionally.

What Hurts Kids

Kids should not:

Be put in the position of a message carrier.

Be asked to be the family spy.

Be told negative information about either parent

Be interrogated after a visit with the other parent.

Be used as a weapon against the other parent.

Be exposed to conflict between the parents.

Feel responsible for the parents' divorce.

Be burdened with adult issues such as court proceedings, dating, or finances.