Recommended Resources.
During my research, I came upon the following resources which I believe would be beneficial to family members.
The first is a book, written by children, for children, and aims to provide advice and information to help them get through their parents divorce. If you would like to, check out the following Youtube video about it.
During my research, I came upon the following resources which I believe would be beneficial to family members.
The first is a book, written by children, for children, and aims to provide advice and information to help them get through their parents divorce. If you would like to, check out the following Youtube video about it.
Stern, Z., Stern, E., & Stern, E. (2008). Divorce is Not the End of The World. California: Tricycle Press.
Children should not feel isolated and alone in their experiences of divorce. By reading about others who have experienced similar situations, children may be less likely to feel alone and not afraid to ask questions or try different methods of coping with changes. The layout and language used in this book is very understandable and appealing to younger people, and may be able to reach some children who would not be interested in other publications. This book is not endorsed by any authority, and simply is a description of two children's beliefs and experiences which helped them get through their parents divorce. It is not a comprehensive description of all possible outcomes, however it does provide some suggestions of different coping mechanisms and strategies which have worked for these children. It should be noted that as it is written by American children, there may be some differences in legal responsibilities and cultural expectations when compared to Australia and other cultures.
Children should not feel isolated and alone in their experiences of divorce. By reading about others who have experienced similar situations, children may be less likely to feel alone and not afraid to ask questions or try different methods of coping with changes. The layout and language used in this book is very understandable and appealing to younger people, and may be able to reach some children who would not be interested in other publications. This book is not endorsed by any authority, and simply is a description of two children's beliefs and experiences which helped them get through their parents divorce. It is not a comprehensive description of all possible outcomes, however it does provide some suggestions of different coping mechanisms and strategies which have worked for these children. It should be noted that as it is written by American children, there may be some differences in legal responsibilities and cultural expectations when compared to Australia and other cultures.
The second useful resource which I found is an information booklet issued by Relationships Australia, called 'What About the Children?'. I believe this will be a very good document for me to keep a copy of so I can share this information with parents of students in my class. This document outlines what should be discussed with the other parent, what to expect from children during a divorce, as well as strategies to help them cope with the changes. There is a section on tips for successful parenting post separation, and also mistakes to avoid. My only concern with this document is that it is undated, and therefore I do not know how recent the information within it is. However, Relationships Australia is a well known community based organisation which provides family support accross Australia, regardless of cultural background. Therefore if anyone required further assistance or had concerns regarding their separation and its impact on their children, there are contact details for counselling services available in this booklet (attached below).
For additional information check out Relationships Australia website at http://www.relationships.org.au/
For additional information check out Relationships Australia website at http://www.relationships.org.au/
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Relationships Australia. (n.d.). What About the Children [Brochure]. Retrieved from http://www.relationships.org.au/relationship-advice/publications/what-about-the-children.pdf
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The final resource which I would like to mention is the Australian Government Website titled 'Getting a Divorce'. This website provides links to different sets of information for parents, teenagers and primary school children. As the official Government site on divorce, from this page parents can find up to date information on the legal requirements, forms and application processes required, as well as where to find advice on financial matters and child support. There is a link for a booklet on parental divorce designed to appeal to teenagers, which includes statistics and personal accounts of other teenagers who have been through the same process. Additionally, there is an interactive animated game which describes to primary school aged children the processes of divorce and how to contact people for additional help if requried. My favorite part of this site is that it provides contact information for people who need a translator, so that this information can be accessed by people from a large variety of different linguistic backgrounds.
Australian Government. (n.d.). Getting a Divorce. Retrieved January 14, 2013, from http://australia.gov.au/life-events/relationships/getting-divorced
Australian Government. (n.d.). Getting a Divorce. Retrieved January 14, 2013, from http://australia.gov.au/life-events/relationships/getting-divorced