Introduction
Students have read about individual interaction in love, marriage,
and divorce. In this exercise, students will examine children's
reactions to divorce and strategies that can help a family
going through divorce.
Lesson Description
Students will use information from the Focus on Kids: The
Effects of Divorce on Children Web site to learn about children's
responses to divorce. Students will read about what causes
stress for children when their parents divorce, how children
of different ages respond differently to divorce, and strategies
that can help all family members cope. Students will then
answer four questions and apply this information by imagining
a friend's parents are divorcing and writing a letter to her
suggesting strategies that can help the family cope.
Instructional Objectives
1. Students will be able to evaluate children's responses
to divorce and discuss strategies to help each family member
cope.
2. Students will be able to apply this knowledge to write
a letter to a friend suggesting strategies to help her family
cope with divorce.
Student Web Activity Answers
1. A child's response to divorce varies according to several
factors: the amount of involvement with the non-resident parent;
the custodial parent's ease in adjusting to divorce; the relationship
prior to divorce; parenting skills; approval and love shown
by both parents; openness to discussing the divorce; degree
of conflict between parents; and economic hardship of the
family.
2. The changes that cause stress for children include: changes
to the living arrangement, changes in the amount of contact
with loved ones, and changes to schedules and routines. Other
sources of stress for children may include their fear of abandonment,
blaming themselves for the divorce, and hostility between
the parents.
3. Students' answers will vary, but the way a child responds
to divorce is influenced by the age of the child. Students
should note the differences in their discussion.
4. Students' answers will vary, but strategies will vary depending
upon the ages of the children. Students should note the differences
in their discussion.
5. Students' letters will vary. In their letters, students
should list and describe appropriate strategies (from the
Web site and their textbooks) for dealing with and adjusting
to divorce.
Student Web Activity
