Children are born without information on handling the many ups and downs of everyone’s life. We all have moments of happiness, excitement, love, and joy intermixed with sadness, despair, disappointment, and grief.
As parents, we are responsible for teaching our children how to manage their emotions in a healthy way, especially when dealing with grief. Here are five tips to help your child handle the loss of a loved one, a pet, or any other significant change:
- Acknowledge the situation: It’s important to recognize that the loss is real to your child. Even if it seems trivial to you, express your concern and validate their feelings.
- Ask how your child feels: Children, like adults, experience an array of emotions when dealing with loss. Give your child the opportunity to talk about their feelings, and don’t pass judgment.
- Understand the normal stages of grief: The five stages of grief a person may go through are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages can apply to your child, but keep in mind that they’re not always linear or predictable.
- Answer any questions your child may have: Children often have questions about death, so be honest and use language they can understand.
- Allow your child to mourn in their own way: Everyone grieves differently, so don’t force your child to mourn in a certain way. Let them decide if they want to attend a funeral, how they want to remember their loved one or pet, and whether they want to mourn in private or public.
Remember, your child looks to you for guidance during this difficult time. Let them see that it’s okay to show sadness and express their emotions.
Susan Sears Writings, LLC 