Children and Grief

We trust that the following information may be of help to you in understanding how children react to death and how you can support your child through the grieving process.

How does a child view death?

There is no single simple answer for this because children, as individuals, each see things influenced by their personal life story. Therefore, their reactions to death will differ depending on their experiences, personality and environment in which they are surrounded.

Some children may experience the death of a pet. They may see the death of animals, birds and flowers. They may have seen death on a television show, newspaper article, movie and computer games. Therefore the notion of death is constantly surrounding children, it is their choice in how they interpret it.

How do Children Grieve?

When it comes to grieving, children sometimes cope better than adults. This does not mean that they do not grieve but rather they express their feelings differently. They may express their grief by noisy play, or be demanding of attention.

The death of a person will involve emotional disruption within an individual. The level of disruption will vary. It is important to not keep the fact of a person’s death from a child, by hiding the truth with statements such as “Granddad has gone on a holiday”, as this may cause repercussions and rejections when the child learns the truth. Therefore the experience of death should be shared and discussed as a family so that each member can understand and support each other.

How can I support my child?

As parents it is important to share your feelings with children. Let them know that you are only human and are also undergoing the process of grief. Just like a parent is there to support a child, the child is also there to provide support and comfort.

By attending support sessions as a family, this may also help everyone who is grieving. For information on family support sessions, please contact us.