Understanding a Child’s Grief

The concept of death can be difficult for adults to understand-and nearly impossible for children. Understanding how children (of all ages) grieve is key to offering the support and guidance needed to get through a time of loss. CareNotes author Daniel Grippo offers guidelines that can help in sections titled: “Talk openly with a child about death,” “Be attentive to a child’s feelings of guilt or blame,” “It’s OK to grieve with a child and not to have all the answers,” “Take into account a child’s age,” and “Let a child participate in mourning rituals.”

By Daniel Grippo