This paper focuses on pre-adolescent children and how they cope with parental divorce. It considers the case of split custody, more common among older children than younger ones, in which one parent has custody of one or more of the children and the other parent has custody of one or more of the siblings. It focuses on the sibling relationship and the role of siblings in helping a child cope with his/her parents' divorce. The importance of the child's having access to all family members during and after the divorce process is emphasized. Other sections of the paper focus on anticipating the child's needs, the child's reaction to environmental changes that accompany divorce, and changes in how the child sees his/her parents and him/herself. The tendency for children to blame themselves for their parents' divorce is explored. Physical problems, caused by psychological stresses, that children may experience during a divorce are discussed and the child's feeling of being torn between the parents is addressed. It is noted that the child's schoolwork may suffer and that the child may feel insecure about the future. Regression, denial, and repression are discussed as possible defense mechanisms that the child may employ to cope with the stresses of divorce. Finally, ways to help children cope with divorce and the counseling needs of some children are discussed. (NB)