Talking about separation and divorce

Helping children cope with separation

My partner of seven years and I have decided to separate. We have two children aged two and four years old. Fortunately we both have the kids' best interests at heart and we will try and keep everything amicable for now and in the future with regards to parenting, access etc.

Our main concern is our bright four-year-old daughter. She is very close to her dad and we just have no idea on the best way to broach the subject with her? At the moment we have the house on the market which will take many months to sale, so we are playing 'happy families' until then.

The only thing she will have picked up on is that daddy sleeps in a different room but she hasn't questioned this. She's known it as daddy's room since he started sleeping in there three months back to recover from an operation, he just never moved back in! She runs in there every morning for a 10-minute snuggle with him and it's become a normal thing now.

How can we explain the changes that will be happening in the future (separating,moving house and starting pre-school) without breaking our little girl's heart?
kettlechip

Anne: At this age, I think you're right to wait until you're physically separating: I would suggest you wait until you?ve exchanged on your new house so that she has a couple of weeks to get used to the idea but not months to worry about it.