Children and Grief

One very important issue, oftentimes overlooked, is when children lose a loved one and are living with grief.

A child may need on-going support to help them process the loss of a loved one. Fortunately, there are a variety of supports and resources that you can refer to during this difficult time.  Among them, simply having an open discussion about the loss and their feelings about it can lay a foundation for the many conversations you will have in the future. (Be sure to bookmark this page for future reference.)

Here are some things to consider as you prepare to have these conversations: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/death.html.

You may also find this NPR podcast helpful as it provides tips on how to speak with children about death: https://www.npr.org/2019/04/24/716702066/death-talking-with-kids-about-the-end.

Acknowledging the loss, as well as the very real feelings of sadness is a starting point.  Also, providing outlets for children to express themselves, whether through writing in a journal, writing a letter to their loved one:  https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/goodbye-letter.pdf. Writing a poem or drawing a picture can also be a productive outlet and a way for a child to communicate emotions.

Additionally, there are many developmentally appropriate books on loss available in bookstores or readily accessible for free online as read-alouds such as I Will Always Love You Children’s Book About Death and Grieving: https://youtu.be/_HzDCY7ZsEo, or Saying Goodbye To Hare: https://www.dyingmatters.org/sites/default/files/SGTHActivitySheetsWeb.pdf.  Sometimes, a child may be more willing to talk when they are busy coloring.  You may want to try this free resource Coloring Through Grief https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0305/4781/files/ColoringThroughGrief.pdf?14016357920897472054.  The Sesame Street Helping Kids Grieve webpage has many ideas and resources  https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/grief/

There are also many free worksheets and resources online that can be helpful such as:

• https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/grief-sentence-completion.pdf
• https://guide.peacefully.com/resources/worksheets-to-help-those-coping-with-grief
• http://schoolcounselorsconnect.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/2/4/10242617/clinical_grief_activities_booklet.pdf

You may also want to consider seeking out the assistance of a professional children’s therapist or grief counselor.  They have experience with supporting children through loss and can provide effective strategies that can be implemented as a family at home and can be shared with the support staff at your child’s school.

Another great resource is via the Child Mind Institute. Make sure to read their section, Helping Children Deal With Grief: https://childmind.org/article/helping-children-deal-grief/. Remember to add these invaluable resource links to your bookmarks or favorites. We think you will find them very helpful.