It's always traumatic when a loved one dies, but it's even more difficult for children, especially if it's the loss of a parent or close family member. According to the Mayo Clinic, bereavement groups let those who have lost a loved one share their experiences and obtain support. Children can often learn to deal with bereavement issues by joining a grief support group. Having an advanced degree in a mental health-related field is recommended for those who want to run a children's grief support group. Specific training on the effect of death on children and the coping mechanisms they employ to deal with their grief is also helpful.
Step 1
Decide on the size of the group and the age range of its members. Group therapy and support groups are usually more effective in smaller sizes. You may want to limit the size of the group to a maximum of around eight participants. Pick a closely related age range, for example, a group for children between the ages of 6 and 9. Children use different coping strategies at different ages, and children who are around the same age will be more likely to be able to relate to each other.
Step 2
Arrange for a time, date and location for your group to meet. Working out the practical issues first will then allow you to focus on the content of your group. Hospitals and community centers are often good places to get referrals for support groups and can provide a conveniently located meeting space.
Step 3
Purchase materials that children can use to express their feelings, such as crayons, colored pencils, construction paper and so forth. Children often express themselves nonverbally, through drawing and other art forms. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, children should be allowed to express their grief in whatever way feels comfortable to them. Having these materials handy will be useful to draw out the children, particularly during the first stages of your group.
Step 4
Decide on the structure and program of your group. You can alternate between discussion time and expression time, where children can feel free to use art materials to memorialize their loved one, for example. You may decide to include art projects, such as having the children make a scrapbook or drawing of their loved one. You can also have educational sessions where you educate and validate children's grief emotions, such as talking about how it's OK to feel angry or depressed.
Step 5
Inform the community about your group in order to recruit group members. You can do this through the use of fliers, Internet, newspaper advertisements or word of mouth, such as through doctors and mental health professionals.
