Childrens Guide for Parents

The children’s guide for parents is a resource created by young people who have gone through parental separation, designed to help you share your thoughts and feelings with your parents. It’s a way to let them know what really matters to you and how they can support you while your family goes through changes.

The guide offers ten practical ideas directly from children’s experiences. It talks about things like listening without judgment, keeping in touch with both parents, reducing arguments, and respecting your routines and feelings. Each idea is explained clearly so you can point out what helps you most, or even show the guide to your parents as a starting point for conversation.

Using this guide can help your parents understand how separation affects you, what makes you feel safe, and what you need from them emotionally. It’s not just about rules—it’s about making sure your voice is heard and your feelings are respected.

The guide also encourages you to think about your own feelings and needs. It can help you organise your thoughts before talking to your parents, giving you confidence to express yourself clearly. By understanding what matters to you, you’re more likely to have calm and honest conversations that your parents can actually listen to.

It also provides tips on handling tricky moments when parents disagree or when emotions run high. You’ll find advice on staying calm, using your words to explain your feelings, and asking for the kind of support that really helps. This makes it easier for your parents to understand your perspective without feeling blamed or criticised.

Finally, the guide shows that you’re not alone. Many children have been through similar situations, and sharing this guide can help your parents see that their child wants to be heard, cared for, and included in decisions that affect them.

The 10 recommendations from children in the guide:

• Understand my point of view

• Don’t use me as a messenger

• Just listening to me helps

• Help me adjust to new living arrangements

• Keep in touch

• Keep me out of arguments

• Take care of yourself

• Don’t say bad things about each other

• Include me in decisions that affect me

• I have a right to see both parents, if it’s safe

Sharing this guide can open up honest conversations, reduce stress, and help parents understand how to support their children better.

Download it using the button above or clicking on this link: Children’s Guide for Parents