Every parent wants to create an amazing life for their child yet while this mostly involves giving them a safe home and all the opportunities they could ask for, you also need to ensure they understand the world. While you don’t want to fill their heads with everything bad going on, they will need to face some harsh truths eventually. Grief is one of the most common issues a child can face, whether they mourn grandparents or pets. As an adult, this post will show you how to help a child through grief.

Help Them Understand the Grief Process

It can be challenging to talk to kids about loss and grief especially if they are not old enough to fully understand what’s happened. This age-by-age guide can help you explain what has happened and why it has happened (should you deem that appropriate). You should use easy to understand language that gets to the point without scarring them as this can make them more accepting of the world’s harsher realities.

Listen to Them

Children are bound to have a hundred questions about what has happened. Some of these questions might be ridiculous but they are all part of a child’s understanding of grief and death and coming to terms with it. After helping them understand you must listen to them and answer their questions. Although do not force them to ask questions yet though, because they will come to you when they are ready.

Help A Child Talk About Their Feelings

It is also possible they can’t eloquently talk about how they feel, but that’s okay. They are still children. As a parent you can work with them to articulate their feelings, which will be more beneficial than letting their emotions overwhelm them. Checking on them regularly during the grieving process may encourage an open conversation. They might not understand some of the emotions they are struggling with, like confusion or even rage. You can help them put these feelings into words and explain that they are all natural reactions.

Explain What Happens Next 

Grief can come quickly but takes a long time to dissipate, especially since there are many other things to do afterward. You and your family or friends can prepare your child for the funeral by explaining what is happening, why it’s happening and what is expected. They might want to say something (depending on how old they are) but this is not mandatory.

Get Help From a Professional 

Many parents are not trained psychologists so do not feel like a failure if you are unable to help a child through grief. If they show long lasting signs of depression or mourning a child psychologist can work with them to get them through their issues and accept their loss. 

Overcoming 

You cannot force people to overcome grief, it happens when it happens. You need to give your child all the tools they need to cope with loss and change. Especially if they do not understand it immediately. While you never want to share awful news with your children it will help them adjust better to the world and help them cope with other problems as they get older.