Kids need help from their parents when it comes to grieving a death in the family. Here's how to help them.
Talking Points:
- Pay attention to the child’s age – it’ll help you determine how that child will cope with grief.
- Grief reactions show up in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
- Be sure to talk to a grieving child, and give them the real facts as appropriately as possible.
- Stay connected to your kids and to the memory of the lost loved one.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- On a scale of 1-10, how well do you think your child understands death or loss?
- Make a list of the grief reactions you’ve seen in your child. Which of these reactions are healthy? Which are unhealthy?
- What are some of the facts you need to explain to your child about the situation? Which facts, if any, are best to leave out?
- What are some things you can do to honor the life of your loved one? How can your kids be a part of that?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
