The loss of a loved one is difficult for many, and can affect a number of people. Adults and children react to grief in different ways, but both will feel similar emotions during the grieving process. To help you support children who have experienced a loss, we’re going to explain a few things which they may experience differently to adults.
What Does Death Mean To A Child?
As adults, we are aware of the implications that come with a death. We know that the person will no longer be there, and are more likely to know the exact cause of their death. This helps adults to understand what has happened and process their grief in a healthy way.
Children are not always treated this way when a loved one has died. Adults around them may use phrases like ‘gone to sleep’ or ‘lost’ instead of ‘dead’, which can be confusing for a child. Although it’s difficult to upset children by telling them the truth, it can make it much easier for them to understand what has happened and begin to process their feelings.
Children Have Worries Too
Adults and children alike are faced with their own mortality when a loved one dies. While adults are usually able to manage their own fears surrounding their death, children don’t always know how to deal with their worries. It’s important that children know that people normally die when they get old, and that one person’s death does not usually mean that everyone else around them will also die soon. Children need a little extra reassurance at this difficult time, so make sure you listen to their fears and do what you can to soothe them.
Keep A Connection With The Deceased
Talking about your lost loved ones can help with the grieving process. You could sit down with your children and write letters to the deceased, tell stories of your memories with them or look through pictures together. This encourages a healthier attitude towards death, knowing that they aren’t gone and forgotten. The process of keeping a loved one’s memory alive is called ‘continuing bonds’, and is recommended by modern psychology as part of a healthy grieving process.
