With almost 50% of marriages ending in divorce in America, it is very likely children have experienced it in some capacity. As educators, helping students cope with divorce in the classroom is necessary for positive learning experiences.
Ways to help students cope with divorce
- Bring Awareness
- Build Self-Esteem
- Use Resources
- Incorporate Books
Bring Awareness
Discuss families in your classroom. Talk about the different types of families students may have. Emphasize that family means love.
Let your students know you love them too!
Build Self-Esteem
Speak positively about your students. Highlight their strengths and what makes them each unique and special.
Take a few moments and encourage students to tell what they like about each other.
Use Resources
The goal of discussing divorce and separation in the classroom is for students to reflect on their personal divorce experience and use positive coping skills.
Divorce or family separation often feels like a wave that is crashing down on a family. With the Divorce and Family Separation workbook, students learn to ride the wave while getting through some of the bumps and wipe-outs along the way. By the end of the workbook, students will understand that every scary wave is possible to ride and that they can come out as a stronger surfer kid!
School counselors can use this workbook with family changes or banana splits groups in small group counseling. Two versions of this workbook are included, one for divorce and one for family separation for foster care or separated families. Both options are available for use as print or digital.
The Divorce Small Group Counseling Curriculum is another great resource for an elementary educator to have on hand when addressing divorce at school.
This resource is focused on coping skills and going through the stages of dealing with divorce or separation through nine detailed counseling lessons. Use this curriculum with Google Slides for easy in-person or digital learning. It’s designed to work great with small groups or with the whole classroom of students.
Incorporate Books
Books can help students make connections and feel less alone in hard situations like divorce.
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When My Parents Forgot to Be Friends by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos
Jennifer Moore-Mallinos writes of a little girl whose parents argue and fight. When the girl finds out that her parents are getting a divorce, she starts to blame herself for them not being together. Over time, the little girl realizes that it is not her fault after all. She also learns that her parents still love her and want to make fun memories with her.
Why Do Families Change?: Our First Talk about Separation and Divorce by Jillian Roberts
As a psychologist, Jillian Roberts writes simply to help children learn about separation and divorce. She begins the book by discussing various relationships such as animals and people and married and common-law relationships. Children learn that their parents’ choices to separate or divorce is not their fault. They also learn that some circumstances leave both parents staying supportive and kind while other situations are more complex, such as custody questions and blended families. The purpose of the book is to create an open conversation between children and adults.
Fred Stays with Me by Nancy Coffelt
A little girl has a dog named Fred. Her parents are divorced. Fred goes with the girl as she travels back and forth between her dad's and mom’s homes. Things are different at her parents’ houses, but her dog stays the same. He barks and chews objects no matter where he is. By having her dog always with her, the girl feels a sense of stability.
With divorce becoming more and more common, it’s so important to discuss this in the classroom and help students learn to positively cope.
You might also be interested in reading:
Children's Books about Divorce and Family Separation
Children's Books about Friendship
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