Children experience the same grief process as adults do. Whether over the loss of a pet or loved one, children experience sadness, anger and guilt. Age plays an important role in how death is processed and how grief affects each individual child. Younger children may not understand death, while older children may not understand the reasons that death occurs. No matter the age, grief is a very large reality in the life of a child, and helping her to deal with that grief is important for parents, caregivers and teachers.
Step 1
Maintain a consistent routine and schedule for your child, suggest Children's Memorial Hospital. Keeping consistency in your child's life helps him to realize that there is comfort through daily living despite his feelings of sadness.
Step 2
Listen to your child and be honest about the situation that she is grieving over. According to ChildGrief.org, physical contact and listening to her will give her comfort to deal with her emotions. Younger children who have yet to express emotion through words can still benefit from physical contact such as cuddling and hugs.
Step 3
Encourage your child to express his emotions. According to Children's Memorial Hospital, allow your child to cry and even cry with him. Sharing these emotions will reassure him that you are there and understand his plight.
Step 4
Allow older children to attend rituals such as funerals and memorials, suggests ChildGrief.org. This gives older children the sense of closure that they so desperately need and helps them to understand what happens after death occurs. Never assume that your child is not ready for these rituals, as this could cause hurt feelings and further grieving.
Step 5
Speak to your child frequently, avoiding using the words sleeping or resting. According to Children's Memorial Hospital, you should refer to the subject of grief as literally as possible. Use the words death and dying to eliminate confusion in younger children.
