5 Videos That Explain How Kids View Divorce
Our Happy Divorce Tuesday, February 18, 2020
There are so many great blogs, podcasts and Facebook pages out there sharing stories by divorce experts who have walked through a divorce and come out on the other side. If you’re looking for some more information, especially about how kids view divorce and what they might be thinking, check out these 5 videos.
Successful Co-Parenting: A Child’s View
Hearing straight from the children of divorce is eye opening. This video from Ohio State University’s The Successful Co-Parenting Program takes you deep inside the minds of children of divorce. You’ll see exactly what kids are thinking, everything from “don’t make me choose between you” to “I feel sad.”
Understanding what these kids are feeling, often well after a divorce, reminds parents to check in with their kids at multiple stages during the divorce. Even months or years after the initial shock of the divorce wears off, kids can face some residual questions and feelings.
Co-Parenting: Managing Conflict, Setting Boundaries, Tips for a Healthy Relationship
If you feel like co-parenting isn’t coming naturally to you or your ex, this video will help. Tiffany Cheung shares her own experiences of co-parenting her young daughter for the past three years.
She shares some advice for transitioning from partners to co-parents. Tiffany also recommends keeping all the focus on your children, not on the fact that you used to be in a relationship. If conflict keeps derailing your co-parenting relationship, Tiffany provides some practical advice. She gives insight on how to choose your battles and improve your communication.
Getting a Divorce with Kids: What Parents Need to Know
Dr. Debra Harris, a pediatric psychiatrist for St. Louis Children’s Hospital, provides advice starting with the first conversation you have with your kids about divorce. She also addresses some of the most common effects of divorce on kids and how parents can avoid them.
She also recommends family meetings for big discussions like custody and conflict. These family meetings show your kids that you and your co-parent are a united front. Dr. Harris also recommends finding safe places, like therapy, to share your unedited feelings about divorce so that your discussions with your children can stay positive.
The Impact of Divorce on Children
In this TEDx talk, Tamara D. Afifi shares her research on how families cope with challenges. As a professor in the Department of Communication at UCSB, her research identifies the common themes that emerge in challenging situations and how understanding them can make you a better co-parent.
Tamara focuses on sharing children’s stories of divorce, especially adolescents and young adults, and explaining the impact of divorce on children. She shares how children respond differently and helps parents understand the short-term impacts of divorce like low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.
Is a Good Divorce Better Than a Bad Marriage for Kids?
Can kids benefit from their parents splitting up? The panelists discuss a recent article addressing this question. They reveal that 82% of the kids in a relationship that’s headed for divorce would prefer their parents divorce than stay together. They share their personal experiences with divorce and also discuss the overall environment that animosity creates in the home.
If you’re worried about the negative effects of divorce on kids or what they’re really thinking, these videos provide you with some valuable insight to help you better understand divorce. Take a look at these and some of the other divorce YouTube channels out there. It’s helpful to hear firsthand what other co-parents have experienced so you can check your progress, too.