While you might prefer to keep the news of your divorce to yourself, as a parent of a school-age child, you may be wondering whether you need to tell someone at the school.
The short answer is that you at least need up-to-date contact details for both parents in case something should happen to the child while at school. It also allows them to keep you both informed of the child’s progress, of events and other school news without one of you having to pass on messages to the other.
Other reasons it’s a good idea
Besides the contact details, the news of your divorce can help teachers understand your child’s actions and behavior while at school. For instance, if your child gets into a fight, it might be that a fellow student provoked them by commenting unkindly about your splitting up and not that your child has suddenly become aggressive.
If they start doing poorly academically, like perhaps not handing in homework, a teacher may understand it as due to the effect of the change to home life and not hanging out with the wrong crowd or losing interest in school.
Of course, having divorcing parents doesn’t mean that issues like these shouldn’t have consequences for a child. However, knowing about the changes allows teachers to keep an eye on your child to see how they are coping and to provide feedback to you and your co-parent.
There’s a lot to consider when you divorce, especially as a parent. With experienced legal guidance, you can better navigate this challenging time.