According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Colorado is highest divorce rate in the country. While the numbers have gone down significantly within the last decade, there will still be plenty of difficult separations in 2019 bound to affect thousands of families.
The first three months of the year tend to be the most popular times for couples to break up, so many children will soon go to one parent’s home after school. It’s frustrating for divorced parents that they cannot comfort their children during some of the most crucial parts of the day during this difficult period. To make sure that your kid is adjusting properly, you should consider looking into different opportunities offered by the child’s school to help them cope with the separation.
Your child’s teachers
Teachers have the best opportunity to witness a child’s development in person. They can tell if the separation is taking a toll on your kid based on the child’s interactions, level of attentiveness and even test scores. Divorces can have a negative impact on a child’s performance in school, so teachers will know quickly that something is wrong when they see the grade drop. Try to pick a teacher you know had a close relationship with your child prior to the divorce or someone who teaches a class that can best examine the child’s social and academic performances.
Supportive groups
According to Psychology Today, many schools have supportive programs designed to help children of divorce. These are great to remind your kid that they aren’t the only one with separated parents and that they can still continue even if their mom and dad aren’t together. If there aren’t any programs specifically for divorce, consider signing them up for sessions with a school psychologist or counselor to help them heal and for you to get a better understanding of what they are going through.
After school programs
Your kid might need something to get their mind off the separation given how stressful school already is. After school programs such as sports or clubs offer a variety of ways to get your child interested in something new while meeting new potential friends in the process. Schools typically advertise what they have to offer near the beginning of the year, so now is a great time to see what your kid could get involved in the late winter or early spring. It also allows for more time for both parents to pick their kids up after work in case there are any issues.
Even if you no longer have a spouse, raising your kid is still a team effort. Many Colorado schools have ways to help children recover from the separation in one way or another, so you should consider researching what your kid’s school has to offer to make the recovery process easier on everyone.
