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How to explain to a child that the father left the family: advice from an experienced psychologist
14.04.2024 17:10
Divorce is not a rare occurrence in the modern world. However, if there are small children in the family, this is where troubles can arise.
How to explain to a child that dad no longer lives in the family? It is not so easy.
Therefore, it is worth considering several tips from a psychologist that will help explain to the child what is happening without traumatizing the psyche.
Awareness of the situation
Before starting a conversation with a child, it is important for parents to recognize and accept the complexity of the situation.
Psychologists recommend that parents spend time on their own to assess their emotions and mood. This will allow them to prepare for the conversation and avoid transmitting negative emotions to their children.
Understanding age-related characteristics
It is important to take age into account when preparing for the conversation. Younger children may not fully understand the meaning of the words "left the family", so the information should be given in the simplest and most understandable words.
Older children may be able to better understand the gist of a situation, but they need more time to process information and ask questions.
Openness and honesty
Psychologists recommend talking openly with children about what is happening, avoiding lies and secrecy. It is important for a child to know the truth in order to understand what is happening in his family.
However, it is important to keep a measure of detail and not to overload him with unnecessary information. Deceiving a child or making something up in such a situation is definitely not the best idea.
Children are very sensitive to deception and will respond to it accordingly.
Support and explanation
When talking about the father leaving the family, it is important to explain that this is the decision of adults and is in no way connected with his behavior or qualities.
Support and understanding from the outside will help the child cope better with this situation. The child should not feel guilty or think about how to fix the situation.
Discussion of feelings
It is important to allow your child to express his feelings about his father's departure. It is also important to listen to him attentively and without judgment. Talking about feelings will help the child adjust to the new situation and clarify his emotions.
Previously, it was reported what divorced women regret.
