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The death of a loved one is always difficult. For children, the death of a loved one can affect their sense of security. Like adults, children express loss by grieving. Yet children may not demonstrate the grief in the same manner as adults. Pre-schoolers usually see death as temporary; between the ages of 5 and 9, children begin to experience grief more like adults. MHA provides the following ...
Feb 21, 2022 · Provide stability with routines. Routines provide a sense of security because they’re predictable and familiar. In the days immediately following the loss, your schedule may experience some ...
- Nancy Lovering
Jan 25, 2023 · Children naturally and spontaneously use play to cope with anything stressful, overwhelming, or emotional in their lives. Death and grief are no exceptions. Don’t try to ban death from play. It ...
- Kids grieve differently. After losing a loved one, a child may go from crying one minute to playing the next. Their changeable moods do not mean that they aren’t sad or that they’ve finished grieving; children cope differently than adults, and playing can be a defense mechanism to prevent a child from becoming overwhelmed.
- Encourage a grieving child to express feelings. It’s good for kids to express whatever emotions they are feeling. There are many good children’s books about death, and reading these books together can be a great way to start a conversation with your child.
- Be developmentally appropriate. It is hard to know how a child will react to death or even if they can grasp the concept. Don’t volunteer too much information, as this may be overwhelming.
- Be direct. When discussing death, never use euphemisms. Kids are extremely literal, and hearing that a loved one “went to sleep” can be scary. Besides making your child afraid of bedtime, euphemisms interfere with their opportunity to develop healthy coping skills that they will need in the future.
Sep 23, 2024 · Possible expressions of grief: Regression to earlier behaviors like thumb-sucking and bedwetting, sleep problems, irritability, confusion. How you can help: Provide honest, direct, brief answers to their questions and lots of reassurance and affection. A consistent routine is also helpful.
Adults can help children understand the physical cause of a death by being brief and using simple language at a developmentally appropriate level. Understanding the physical reasons behind a death helps minimize possible confusion and feelings of guilt or shame children may experience. Most children grasp these concepts by 5 to 7 years of age ...
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Mar 21, 2024 · When it comes to a child’s reaction to grief, particularly around the death of a loved one, psychological science suggests the child’s emotional closeness to the deceased plays a critical role in their response and ability to cope. Evidence also suggests kids fare better when parents and other caring adults help them process their grief. It ...
