Goals of

To provide a safe, comfortable

environment to identify and
express true feelings and concerns
To normalize experiences through
peer support and sharing
To foster childrens problem
solving and coping skills
To enhance positive self-esteem
To encourage teamwork (school
professionals, parents, and Splits
kids)
Adapted from Raymond, Valerie (n.d.) Banana
splits resource center. Retrieved from
http://www.bananasplitsresourcecenter.org/i
ndex.html






Banana
Splits
Come Find Your Sweetness in
a Split!
Christina Celfo and Maggie Walsh
Montclair State University



Who Can Your Child
Talk to if He/She Needs
Help?
School counselors, Miss Celfo
and Miss Walsh, will provide
support. Reach out to us!
Communicate with your
childs teacher, who will then
reach out to us for support
Banana Splits will meet
during lunchtime every
Wednesday. Please contact
us by October 20
th
if you
are interested in your child
joining this group.

Email Us:
ccelfo@bananasplits.edu
mwalsh@bananasplits.edu

Call Us:
555-BAN-ANAS

Get the Scoop!
50% of children will experience divorce
before they are 18 years of age (Fagan &
Churchill, 2012)
Short-term, structured group work helps
students (of divorce) to learn healthy
communication skills, normalize feelings,
and promote their mental health
development (Rose, 2009)
A group therapeutic environment aligns with
childrens developmental stage a time of
peer acceptance, self-discovery, self-
affirmation (Corey, 2011)
What are Banana Splits?
Banana Splits is a peer support group for
elementary-aged children (boys and girls) whose
parents are separated, divorced, or expected to
go through divorce. Splits kids meet weekly (30
minutes) in the school counselors office to talk
about their feelings and gain support from their
peers. Mini-themed lessons include: coping
strategies, communication skills, self-esteem
building, finding therapeutic outlets, finding the
positive in experiences, and family changes.


Your Sundae is Not the
Only One to Split
Remember the 3 Cs to prevent self-blame:
I didnt cause it and I cant change it,
but I can cope with it! (Somody &
Hobbs, 2006)
The 3 Cs empower children and foster a healthy
outlook on their parental divorce.
What Happens in Splits
Stays in Splits
Splits is a safe environment for students.
Confidentiality is of the utmost importance.
Splits kids promise to tell only their own stories.
Students will learn emotions can be expressed
verbally and nonverbally. Splits kids will engage
in activities (e.g. drawing, games, read-alouds) to
support and relate to each other. Students learn
they are not alone in their experience(s).
Keep Your Eyes Peeled
Look out for the following divorce-related
behaviors and changes in your child:
Low self-esteem, self-efficacy
Shame, fear, insecurity
Poor concentration low academic
achievement






Withdrawal
Difficulty with peers
Loneliness
Increased anger and/or anxiety
Apeeling Resources
For children:
Dinosaurs Divorce: A Guide for Changing
Families, by Krasny-Brown and M. Brown
The Family Book, by Todd Parr
Momma and Daddy Bears Divorce, by
Cornelia Maude-Spelman
I Dont Want To Talk About It, by J. F.
Ransom
Kidshealth.org A Kids Guide to Divorce
http://iamachildofdivorce.com/kids

For you, parents and guardians:
Talking To Children About Divorce, by R.
Garon and B. Mandell
http://www.uptoparents.org
What About the Kids?: Raising Your Children
Before, During, and After Divorce, by Judith
Wallerstein
Parenting After Divorce: Resolving Conflicts and
Meeting Your Childrens Needs, by Philip Stahl

Indulge in this
delightful opportunity!