(HealthDayNews) -- Divorce can wreak havoc in children's lives, and while there is no step-by-step manual for steering your kids through this traumatic time, there are some common sense guidelines that may make adjustments easier.

If you're going through a divorce, The Nemours Foundation suggests you:

• Encourage your kids to talk as openly as they can about their feelings, positive or negative.
• Don't bad mouth your estranged spouse in front of your children, no matter how angry you are.
• Avoid using your kids as messengers or go-betweens.
• If there's someone new in your life, expect resistance from your children.
• Seek out support groups, counseling, and friends in similar situations.