Divorcing Children: Children's Experience Of Their Parents'

Description:
Drawing on a three-year multidisciplinary study of the children of divorced parents, the authors present an essential guide to working with children who are experiencing parental separation. This book provides an in-depth picture of the effect of divorce on children both during and after the proceedings. The authors show what children want and need to know and how professionals can allow them to have a degree of involvement in the process of separation. Divorcing Children addresses the weaknesses of current legislation in family justice and suggests ways of improving the skills and knowledge of all professionals who work with children during this difficult period in their lives.

Review:
'The objective of the book is admirable as its aim to expose and address 'the ambiguity that inhabits much of our thinking about children in contemporary Britain'. It is very important that the views expressed by children in the study are brought to the attention of practitioners and policy-makers alike to whom I recommend the book. Improvements in practice are dependent on the availability of research such as this. - Fiona Raitt, University of Dundee, Scolag 'This is an excellent book that should be read not only by all professionals dealing with children but also by parents and wider family. The quotations from the young people powerfully describe the situation in which they, through no fault of their own, find themselves.' - Ann Buchanan University of Oxford, Child and Family Social Work 'There is a wealth of first-hand accounts by children. The research shows clearly the extent of crisis felt by the children, their need to understand what was happening and what would follow, and their need for emotional comfort. However, the study also highlighted these children's skills and resilience. The work is very relevant for a wide range of social care staff.' -- Care & Health Magazine

Table of Contents:
Introduction - divorcing children; children and divorce -developments in policy and practice; finding out; telling others; parent-child relationships; contact; change and adaptation; legal aspects; conclusions.

Author Biography:
Ian Butler is Professor of Social Work at Bath University and is currently seconded to the Welsh Assembly Government where he is Cabinet Advisor on Children and Young People's policy. He has published widely in the area of childcare practice and public policy.