Giving children a voice when their parents separate can be very important, and is often overlooked by parents who assume that by telling the children what is happening they are also listening.
The very time when children need the support of their parents most is often the time when the pain and anxiety of separation can be overwhelming for the parents, which makes it hard to really listen to your children. Research indicates how often children feel that they have no voice.
“Children whose parents discuss what is happening in the family with them and ask how it makes them feel not only survive the immediate shock better but also adapt more easily to the new circumstances”
(Penelope Leach: Family Breakdown).