Helping a Grieving Child

Most often, they’re unable to express or communicate their emotions with the elders and continue to grieve in isolation – which affects their significantly personal life and ability to heal quickly. How a child grieves also depends on their age, understanding of the death, and relationship with the deceased.  

While supporting a grieving child is not easy at a time when you too are overwhelmed by the loss, you can follow the below tips to make the grief journey slightly better for them.   

Don’t bar the child from attending the funeral arrangements or family ceremonies after the funeral as it could feel them excluded. Many people tend to hide the truth from children ostensibly to protect them – but mostly it backfires.  

Research shows that involving children in their loved one’s final farewell boosts their confidence and expedites the healing process. However, don’t force your child to attend ceremonies if they don’t want to.    

Try to be honest and clear in your communication with them and let them know the reality that the loved one has left us forever and never going to come back. It may afflict them even harder but in the long term, it’ll help them accept and adapt to the new reality.  

You should also grief with them to let them know it’s ok to be upset but they should need to be “strong” and “forward-looking.” Of course, it’s easier said than done, but with consistent effort and care, you can help them get over the loss rather quickly.  

Remember, children constantly dip in and out of grief. They may be crying, screaming, and getting angry at one moment and playing with the friends the other. Likewise, they may be talking with you in the morning all happy but tend to be alone in the evening. That’s a natural turn of events for young children while they’re coping with grief.  

Grief can make a child vulnerable and low on energy. Try to indulge them in activities or sports they love. Playing your favorite game is naturally therapeutic and brings positivity and optimism to life. Also, it encourages the child to share their feelings and emotions in their own way.   

You should also go on a walk with them, buy their favorite food, play a game, or do arts and crafts. Children can communicate better while doing their favorite activity as it distracts them from overwhelming emotions of grief.  

It’s a common pitfall of the grief that the bereaved children start blaming themselves, especially if the loved one has died suddenly or if they have had an argument with the deceased in the days preceding the death. Assure them that nothing they have said or done has led to the loss and show your continuous and unconditional support to them to boost their morale after the service at funeral homes Red Hill, PA.