Dr. Danielle Forshee, Psy.D. spoke to Pure Wow about 10 Divorce Books for Kids to Help Them Make Sense of What’s Happening and Deal with Big Feelings
“It is normal for children to experience a wide range of emotions that can seem like a rollercoaster—anger, confusion, shock, sadness, anxiety,” psychologist and family therapist Dr. Danielle Forshee, Psy.D. tells us. She adds that “they may even act out a bit or want to be alone at times.” In other words, kids will likely have a lot of big feelings about the whole thing and, whether they say so or not, they’ll need the help of a sensitive parent to sort it all out. That said, helping a child manage the stress and cope with conflicted feelings about divorce is no small task when you’re busy trying to do the same for yourself—and that’s why divorce books for kids can really come in handy.
Books about divorce can “help bridge the gap with teaching children coping skills for managing big feelings,” says Dr. Forshee. (Note: This is especially helpful when emotions are running high for the grown-ups and they could use a helping hand in the parenting department.) Furthermore, Dr. Forshee tells us that books help “normalize for children that what they are going through is experienced by a host of other families from all over.” They can also provide a talking track for parents and kids by encouraging children to “feel more open to expressing themselves directly to the co-parents about big feelings.” Indeed, books about divorce have multiple benefits for children at a time of family change. If you’re ready to add some to your home library, we’ve got some recommendations to get you started.
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