Video of the Week --Divorce and Stepfamilies: Breaking Apart, Coming Together (In the Mix Series)
RSSFrom SLJ March 2005
Kimberly L. Paone, Elizabeth (NJ) Public Library -- School Library Journal, 03/14/2005
videocassette. color. 30 min. Prod. by In the Mix. Dist. by Castle Works (www.castleworks.com). 2004. ISBN 1-931843-57-0. $69.95.
Gr 5-12–In this timely and well-produced video, teenagers talk about their individual experiences with divorce and blended families. The first segment features a mentoring program in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Teens who have gone through their own parents’ divorce listen to and commiserate with children in second through fifth grade dealing with divorce in their own families. Subjects such as emotional issues, shared custody, court hearings, and where to seek help are all discussed. The next segment takes place at Hunterdon Central High School in New Jersey where older teens speak very candidly about their experiences and offer advice to other teens about not becoming involved their parents’ concerns, healthy activities to keep their minds off problems at home, and moving on. The final segment focuses on a blended family consisting of a widow and her two teenagers, a divorced dad and his two teenagers, and two young children who are a product of their marriage. Interviewed in their kitchen, the happy family members speak openly about the problems they’ve experienced. This video offers a realistic look at divorce and its emotional impact on the children from the perspective of actual teens who have lived through it. The comments are obviously not rehearsed, giving the message even more impact. A wonderful tool to initiate conversations on this subject with middle and high school students.
