As a school counselor, we see many kids who struggle with their parents' divorce and the changes it brings to their family. It seems that kids are often overlooked in the divorce process. Typically, kids are quiet about their feelings and the people most in tune to their struggle, their parents, are also grieving and struggling with the loss of the marriage and family structure as they know it. I have created a 6 session group to help guide your students through this difficult time. As always, I strive to share everything you need to implement here on the blog. If you would like to have all the plans, printables, and activities, please visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store to purchase.
D Group Outline
Lesson 1: Introduce Your Family
Lesson 2: Kaleidoscope of Feelings
- Draw a picture of your family. This may include more than one house, more than one parent, or any combination.
- At work discussion: What kinds of things do you like to do at mom/dad/grandma's? Where do you sleep when you stay here? Who are you friends that you see when you stay with mom/dad/grandma?
- Share Family Portraits with the group
Lesson 2: Kaleidoscope of Feelings
- Fill a large container with water. Allow students to put drops of food coloring in the water while they talk about their feelings about their parents' divorce.
- Alternative: use a mandala coloring page and color your feelings
Lesson 3: Bubbled Up Feelings
Lesson 4: What's Buggin' You?
- Blow bubbles as an icebreaker. Practice calm breathing as you slowly breathe in and blow out bubbles.
- Bubble Calm page- students write what helps them to feel calm in the bubbles on their page.
- Students practice bubble calm with bubbles. The slower you breathe, the bigger the bubbles you can make.
Lesson 4: What's Buggin' You?
- Bug Tac Toe Icebreaker
- Bug Spinners - write people that you can talk to on your spinner. Cut out arrow and attach to bug with a brad. Spin your spinner and practice what you would say to them.
Lesson 5: The Fortune Teller
- Write 8 things you wish adults would ask you about on your fortune teller
- Cut out and fold to create fortune teller and practice with group members
Lesson 6: Group Wrap Up
- Add your story to the Changing Families Binder to share with kids who see the counselor in the future
This is a great, easy way to help kids to cope with their family's change. What do you do to support students through divorce? Any great tips? You can check out all group plans and printables on Teachers Pay Teachers, this group is also part of a bundle.
