What Happens Next? is a child-friendly booklet created by the Department of Justice, Government of Canada, to help kids aged 9–12 understand family separation and divorce. It provides simple explanations about legal processes, emotional challenges, and family changes that may occur. The booklet is packed with relatable stories, practical advice, and activities to help children process their feelings and navigate their new reality.
This resource empowers children to understand that they are not alone and that they are not to blame for their parents’ decisions. It encourages them to express their thoughts and feelings, ask questions, and find trusted adults to talk to.
How Can Social Workers and Professionals Use This Booklet?
- Educate About Family Changes: Use the booklet to explain the basics of separation, custody, and parenting arrangements in a way children can understand.
- Support Emotional Wellbeing: Guide children through the stories and activities to help them process feelings like sadness, anger, or confusion.
- Encourage Communication: Help children voice their concerns and questions to their parents or trusted adults.
- Provide Tools for Coping: Teach coping strategies like writing letters, drawing family trees, or using calendars to stay organized between two homes.
This resource is ideal for social workers, counselors, educators, and caregivers supporting children through the complexities of family separation and divorce.
Click below to access the booklet and use it in your work to support children experiencing family changes.
FREE PDF DOWNLOAD OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? INFORMATION FOR KIDS ABOUT SEPARATION AND DIVORCE
RELATED RESOURCE:
Children and Divorce Guide for Parents
This comprehensive guide offers support and practical advice for parents navigating divorce and its impact on their children. It covers critical topics, including how to break the news of a divorce to children, managing their emotional responses, and fostering healthy co-parenting relationships. The guide includes age-specific insights into the effects of divorce on children, tips for resolving conflict, and strategies to ensure children’s emotional well-being during family changes. Designed to promote stability and resilience, it is an invaluable resource for helping families transition through divorce while prioritising children’s needs and long-term adjustment.
