Mourning & Bereavement
Children
back

Helping Kids deal with Loss & Grief

Introducing the Reality of Death to a Child

• Use the correct language and not metaphors
• Look at children�s literature to help with the topic. One such book is Charlotte�s Web
• Religion can help sometimes
• Use puppets

Explaining Death to Children

Denial

• Talk to the child 
• Follow-up visit to funeral home and/or cemetery 
• Nature walk 
• Share your feelings  
• Play acting 

Anger

• Talk to the child  
• Help them identify things that are making them angry   
• Help them with coping techniques such as physical activities and artistic activities such as drawing, writing and puppets  

Guilt or Regret

• Again, use artistic things such as drawing, writing or puppets    
• Play games to help them remember all the good things they do   

Depression

• Help them learn how to cope...drawing   
• Let the child pick out a keepsake  
• Get out the photos and talk about them    
• Make a scrapbook    
• Look at home movies/videos

Fears

• Talk to your child   
• Identify fears  
• Are they experiencing bad dreams?