Grief is an intensely emotional process that profoundly changes the lives of many adults. For children, grief can be confusing, scary, and life-changing. It is crucial to support children through the grieving process and educate them on healthy ways to cope. We have some general tips for supporting children through the loss of a loved one.

Validate Their Emotions

When children experience grief, they likely feel a lot of overwhelming emotions at once. They may not be able to express their feelings effectively and articulate what they are thinking. They may feel guilty for feeling certain emotions over others. This is why validating their feelings, no matter what they are, is so important. 

Children are people, just like adults. After the death of a loved one, they might feel angry. They might feel guilty. They might feel overwhelming depression. There is no correct way to grieve, and children afraid to express their emotions can feel trapped in their grief. They need to hear that all of these feelings are okay.

Listen

It can be hard to address grief with children because adults often scramble to find the right words to say. We want to alleviate our children’s pain and suffering as much as we can. However, sometimes the best support we can give is to say nothing at all. Grieving children need someone to listen to their thoughts and feelings without judgment. 

Instead of projecting your own idea of what your child is going through onto them, it can be more helpful to provide a safe space for them to talk. It is best to let the child explain instead of trying to rush to tell them that everything is okay. Lending a listening ear can help support a child through the grieving process. 

Visit Good Grief Support Center for Children

If you are unsure how to best support children through grief, Good Grief’s specialized support programs can help. Good Grief Support Center for Children is a free resource group that offers education, support, and programs for grieving children. They host camps, school talks, and events that help children experiencing the death of a loved one. 

Good Grief focuses on fostering healthy coping mechanisms and teaching children about grief. They emphasize resilience and strength in the face of a major loss. Good Grief is an excellent resource if you need ideas to support a child through the grieving process.

Rally a Community Around Them

Social support is one of the cornerstones of handling grief in a healthy way. Your child likely feels alone in their mourning, regardless of the support you have offered. While it is best to give children space and freedom to mourn, community support is also important. Your child needs to feel supported and cared for by their loved ones to move on. 

You can plan small gatherings with your child’s favorite people or plan fun activities with friends. It is important to remain mindful of your child’s boundaries when doing so. Never push them to socialize before they are ready. However, if they show signs of reaching out for connection, that is an excellent time to show them their support system.

For additional information on children and grieving, visit Good Grief’s website. They have numerous resources on this topic that have proven to be effective at helping children through mourning and grief. Grief is a complex machine that people must learn to manage, children included.