muragin,+survivors+of+divorce

=The Effects of Divorce on Children =

I chose "the effects of divorce on children" because I was one of those children effected by divorce. My parents finally got their divorce when I was a sophomore in high school--which I thought was too late. Through my elementary and middle school years, my parents fought constantly, which created a negative vibe in our home. My dad moved out several times, and was a difficult time for us all. As a child who went through this process, I know how hard it is for the parents and the child. I would have benefited more if my parents had informed me of what was going on, instead of keeping me in the dark. The divorce rate in America is very high and as teachers, we are going to see this in our classrooms. This page is a resource for both parents and teachers who are looking for information to learn about how to go through divorce with children. They will be effected, but if we are able to provide the right information to them we can support them inside and outside of the classroom.

__The five most important things I learned were:__

1. **Keep your children "in the loop"**. They are just as concerned and anxious as the parents are, and they need to know what is going on so they are better prepared to handle the situation.

2. **Divorce happens.** This is something that occurs, sadly, all the time, and will continue occuring throughout our lives. The __//way//__ divorce is handled and explained to children is how they will be able to cope with their emotions in a seemingly healthy way.

3. **Do not "bad mouth" spouses.** When going through a divorce, it is important to not allow children to hear their parents "bad mouthing" each other. This creates a bitter taste and confusion towards his/her parents.

4. **Allow children to express feelings/emotions on divorce.** Chidlren will express many types of feelings and emotions during divorce. They will always have an emotional response, and it is important that they feel it is ok.

5. **Support children in anyway possible.** While children are going through their emotional response, it is important for parents and teachers to //always// suppor them through this process. Ensuring children understand they are supported will allow them to know they are not alone and may experience this in a healthier way.

__If I only have time to view one resource __, I'd suggest #1. I chose this one because it is a great site which explains everything about divorce. It provides information for both parents and teachers who are looking to explain divorce to their children, but do not know how. It is both welcoming and informative.

__Eight resources:__

1. I found this website on delicious.com. It is a great resource for parents and teachers to use when going through divorce with children. This site gives parents notes on what to say and how to keep children "in the loop" through this difficult time. If teachers have students going through divorce, they can use this site as a tool not only for themselves but to aide parents as well. I would rate this site a 5/5 because it not only provides important information, but it gives parents and teachers things to say to their children to explain what is happening. children and divorce

2. I found this site on google.com and thought it was a useful site. Instead of just providing information about divorce on children, it also answers FAQ's (frequently asked questions). This site would be helpful for those who are interested in finding out about children of divorce and those who families are still intact. I would rate it a 4/5 because although it provides information about the effects of divorce on children and why they seem to have more of a difficult time. But, it is missing some important information about dealing with divorce. [|http://parenting247.org/article.cfm?ContentID=646]

3. This slideshow found on slideshare.net explains divorce, its effect on children and parents. It also goes into detail on behaviors before, during and after divorce. I would rate this slideshow a 4/5 because although it provides a lot of good information, I felt like this person was yelling at me. As I read through, his word choices were pretty harsh and basically blamed everything on the parents. It didn't seem to be just an informative slideshow, but a "rant" as well.

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4. I found a youtube video about divorce and its effects on children. It is a great video because they interview a family who struggled with divorce and were able to interviewed the chidlren. Their voices really speak the truth to what children all over the world are coping with everyday. I would rate this video a 5/5 because they are true stories and it really explains the harsh facts of divorce. I especially enjoyed the fact the children were interviewed and explained their feelings about the divorce. media type="youtube" key="FDfQBEHCCtw" height="315" width="420"

5. I found a podcast on Itunes that is a question and answer type. The main person is a Psychologist who is speaking about the issue of divorce and how it effects children. He also invites a specialist who deals with this issue all the time--Dr. Leah Klungness. I find this podcast very informative because it is a discussion from a woman who deals with this situation everyday. Dr. Klungness also has experience with beign a single mother and parent. I would rate this podcast a 5/5 because it is very informative about divorce and a realistic view of how people have felt and explains how parents and children feel before, during and after the time. [|effects of divorce]

6. This webpage is a great resource for parents and teachers. It explains the effects on women, men and children. It also goes into detail about the emotions peple feel while going through divorce and how children react as well. It was interesting to see how the site listed the types of behaviors based on the childs age. I would rate this site a 5/5 because it not only spoke about the children, but also on the men and women going through the divorce as well. mediate

7. I found another podcast on Itunes called "Childhood Matters". Nurse Rhona explains what, "you can do and attitudes you can take to provide a safe and loving home for your children, as they struggle to make sense of the changes in their life." She describes her personal experience with divorce and expresses how she wished she knew more about it. I felt she spoke towards many parents who do not understand divorce, and did not educate themselves because they didn't know where to go. Nurse Rhona also has author on divorce books, and a licensed clinical social worker and private practicer on her "show". I would rate this podcast a 5/5 because she does a great job explaining divorce and what parents can do when dealing with it. She also brings in different people who understand this process and how children will be effected. [|Childhood Matters]

8. This web page is very interesting because it has lots of information about divorce. There are many different articles to choose if you are curious about //anything// revolving divorce. The articles are great resources for parents and teachers because it discusses lots of ways to approach divorce and how to explain it and support children. I would rate this page a 5/5 because there is a multitude of resrouces and there is also a place to search for professionals in any state in the US. children and divorce