There are a number of books on the market to help explain divorce to children ages 3-8 years. These books can be helpful in opening discussions with your children about the feelings they are experiencing during a divorce. These books may also help reassure your children that even though their parents are divorcing, it does not mean they are divorcing the children. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Fred Stays With Me by Nancy Coffelt: This Horn Book Honor Award winner focuses on the relationship between a young girl and her dog, which is the constant in her life as she adjusts to having two homes. If you have a pet (or a blanket or stuffed animal) that travels with your child between homes (a good idea), this is a particularly good book. Ages 4-7.
- Was It The Chocolate Pudding? By Sandra Levins: In this story, two children make a mess with chocolate pudding at the same time their parents decide to divorce. The children think that the divorce is their fault because they made a mess with the chocolate pudding. This is an excellent book to help children understand that their parents’ divorce is not their fault. Ages 4-7.
- The Invisible String by Patrice Karst: This book is not specifically about divorce, but rather about loss. It is a sweet book that focuses on the fact that no matter where a child goes, they are connected to someone by the invisible string of love. Children whose parents are divorcing often feel they must choose between their parents and this book helps them understand that even though they are not always with one parent or the other, they are still always connected by the invisible string of love. Ages 4-8.
- Living with Mom and Living with Dad by Melanie Walsh: This “lift the flap” book addresses the fact that while children will have two homes if their parents are divorced, there are positives and fun things in both homes, even if they are different. Ages 3-7.
- Standing on My Own Two Feet by Tamara Schmitz: A simple book that helps children process that divorce, while permanent and life-changing, does not change the important fact that their parents love them. Ages 3-6.
On behalf of Hughes White Colbo & Tervooren, LLC posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2017.