Drawing on a three-year multidisciplinary study of the children of divorced parents, the authors, leading academics in their fields, present a much-needed guide to working with children who are experiencing parental separation. Providing an in-depth picture of the effect of divorce on children both during and after the proceedings, the topics discussed include:how parents break the news of divorce to children and how this makes them feelwhere children get their ideas about divorce fromhow parent–child relationships change after separationways in which children adapt and cope with divorce. The authors show what children want and need to know and how professionals can allow them to have a degree of involvement in the process of separation that will help them to understand and adjust to their changing circumstances. Divorcing Children addresses the weaknesses of current legislation in family justice and suggests ways of improving the skills and knowledge of all professionals who work with children during this difficult period in their lives.
Introduction - divorcing children; children and divorce -developments in policy and practice; finding out; telling others; parent-child relationships; contact; change and adaptation; legal aspects; conclusions.
'The objective of the book is admirable as its aim to expose and address ''the ambiguity that inhabits much of our thinking about children in contemporary Britain''. It is very important that the views expressed by children in the study are brought to the attention of practitioners and policy-makers alike to whom I recommend the book. Improvements in practice are dependent on the availability of research such as this. - Fiona Raitt, University of Dundee, Scolag 'This is an excellent book that should be read not only by all professionals dealing with children but also by parents and wider family. The quotations from the young people powerfully describe the situation in which they, through no fault of their own, find themselves.' - Ann Buchanan University of Oxford, Child and Family Social Work 'There is a wealth of first-hand accounts by children. The research shows clearly the extent of crisis felt by the children, their need to understand what was happening and what would follow, and their need for emotional comfort. However, the study also highlighted these children's skills and resilience. The work is very relevant for a wide range of social care staff.' -- Care & Health Magazine
