Mr. Rogers can help parents explain divorce and separation

Fred Rogers, an educator, minister, and television personality, helped generations of children understand divorce.

• Tell your child together. Your child will focus on how you act more than what you say. If you and your former partner can both sit down and together protect your child's feelings in a conversation, then your child will know that you can work together in the future. It's also easier for the two of you to start practicing a healthy co-parenting style if you start small. "Let's have a conversation tomorrow..." is easier than "Let's plan each and every holiday for the next decade..." Start small. 
• Tell your child about the divorce in the morning, on a weekend, and stay with them the rest of the day. Children need time to process the news before they go to bed. They can distract themselves during the day while they get used to the idea. They can reality test their fears while you're with them. Later, when they're in bed alone, they've already had a chance to hear an adult's take on the situation. They'll feel more comfortable.

“When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we're not alone.” Fred Rogers

Divorce is sad and painful. During a separation or divorce, children often feel as if their family is “broken.” They might even worry that "Since my parents stopped loving each other, they might stop loving me." Divorce changes families in many ways. But it's still possible for children to feel secure, safe, and loved, even when their parents don't live together. Here's an episode of Mr. Rogers that explains divorce: From Parent Resources - Divorce and Separation Fred Rogers Productions

And here's a shorter video where Mr. Rogers explains divorce to a small child. 

Something that really stands out in these videos is the way that Mr. Rogers stays in the present and only explains what's relevant right now. Children only have this present moment. They don't understand the future or the past.

This helps us as parents. If you can make the moment you are with your children as calm and secure as possible, then you know that your child will remember being loved. 

You don't have to explain the past or the future. You only have to help your child feel as okay as possible right now, in this moment. Eventually the good moments you have together will become your past, and your child will know how to create a positive future.