When working with grieving children there are many things you can do to help. Here is a simple list to refer to when you identify that your child is grieving. To find out what events are considered grieving experiences, please take a look at our list by clicking here.

Do

• Go First. As the adult, you are the leader.
• Tell the truth about how you feel. It will establish a tone of trust and safety. Recognize that grief is emotional, not intellectual, and that sad or scared feelings are normal reactions to all loss events.
• Remember that each child is unique and has a unique relationship to what they hear and believe about loss.
• Be Patient. Give your child time to formulate opinions. Make sure to plant healthy ideas about talking about feelings.
• Listen with your heart, not your head. Allow all emotions to be expressed, without judgment or criticism.

Don't

• Don't Say "Don't Feel Scared." Fear is the most common response to loss, for children and adults.
• Don't Say "Don't Feel Sad." Sadness is a healthy and normal reaction to loss.
• Don't ask your children how they are feeling. Like adults, fearful of being judged, they will automatically say, "I'm Fine, " even though they are not.
• Don't act strong for your children. They will interpret your "non-feeling" as something they are supposed to copy.
• Don't compare their lives or situations to others in the world. Comparison always minimizes feelings.
• Don't make promises that you cannot keep. Instead of saying "Everything's going to be okay," say, "We'll do everything we can to be safe."
• Don't forget that your children are very smart. Treat them and their feelings with respect and dignity as you would like to be treated by others.

To learn more about children and grief, please read our book When Children Grieve

In the mean time, here are some other useful articles on grief and children:

3 Important Things to Know Concerning Children and Grief

Children and Grief

6 Ways to Teach Children Sad Feelings are Normal

Taking Children to Funerals

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