How to Help Children Deal with Grief

Grieving is the natural process that helps us deal with death and heal from pain. For both adults and children the anguish is real. But children often are not equipped with the coping skills to overcome the sudden void in their lives. These steps will help your children deal with grief.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Listen to your children and take the time to answer their questions. When parents listen to their children's thoughts about death, they can help them to comprehend it better.
2. Talk to your children openly and honestly about death. Telling them the truth helps children distinguish between what is real and what is make believe.
3. Accept and help your children express their feelings about death. Whether your children are dealing with grief over the death of a grandparent or a pet, take their feelings of sadness seriously.
4. Involve your children in your family's grieving process. Keep your children with you (as opposed to taking them to a babysitter or friend's house) so that they are not alone in their feelings of sadness or loss.
5. Give your children love. Plenty of hugs and affection, along with a normal home life routine, will give children more security while dealing with their grief.
6. Encourage your children to gradually get back into their routines. Take the necessary time to work through their feelings and memories about the deceased, but help them to shift their focus to the present.
7. Show your children that death is a part of life that must be dealt with by everyone. Explaining that death is natural can help your children cope with their feelings of confusion and pain.

Tips & Warnings

• Numerous books specifically designed for children dealing with grief can be found at your local library or in bookstores.
• Seeking a professional counselor may be necessary if child seems overly depressed. You should be concerned if the child demonstrates trouble sleeping or eating, voices fears about being alone, withdraws from friends and family, refuses to attend school, suffers a sharp decline in grades, or repeatedly expresses a desire to be with the deceased.