Helping Grandchildren Through Parents' Divorce (1504)

Divorce can be a time of tremendous change and uncertainty for a child, particularly when there is a sudden change in the child's support system. Children in this situation may end up moving away from close friends, or they may find that family members on whom they relied for support are suddenly less available to them emotionally, physically, and financially.

In such cases, children's relationships with their grandparents can take on vital importances as sources of continity and stability in their lives. Continued close relationships with grandparents can remind children that certain things--such as the affections of their grandparent(s)--do not change.

Whether it is through visits, telephone calls, e-mails or letters, a caring grandparent can ease the transition of a grandchild from one home or living situation to another.

It is desirable to allow the grandparent-grandchild relationship to evolve in a way that best meets the changing needs of the child. For some children, what they may need most is a friendly listener, who is a "safe" person with whom to share their feelings. Other children may need help learning how to make new friends, or figuring out how to communicate in positive ways with a parent who is placing new demands on them at home.

Grandparents are treasure troves of experience, and thus they are great sources of information about how to deal with the life's challenges. Some grandparents may not need to search beyond their own personal life histories to find riveting stories to tell their grandchildren about ways to survive and thrive during times of adversity.

Just because many relationships change when a family faces divorce does not mean that the bond between grandparent and grandchild needs to be broken. On the contrary, this is one relationship that should be maintained and nurtured during this challenging time for the child.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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