- Who it's for
- Outside Caregiver, Inside Parent, Whole Family
- Child / youth age
- All ages
- Geography
- National
- Action type
- Talk
- Reading time
- About 5 min
- Last verified
- August 2026
What this is
Age-banded guidance for explaining a change in the family's situation.
Why it matters
Children fill silence with worse stories than the truth, told simply.
What you should know
- Younger children need simple, concrete facts and reassurance about who cares for them.
- Teens usually already know more than adults assume and resent being managed.
- Young adults may need help with logistics as much as with feelings.
- Consistency between adults matters more than perfect wording.
Talk about it
Ask what your child has already heard from someone else.
Your next step
Write two sentences you could say if the topic comes up tonight.
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