What Grieving Children Need: (Partial List)

1. To be allowed to grieve as a child
To play and laugh as part of their grieving
To delay their grieving for days, weeks or even months
To ask questions about death and loss over and over again
To be angry, to cry, to express fears, guilt or shame
To be clingy and seek adult contact
2. To participate in family grieving rituals
3. To be heard and acknowledged as grieving people
4. To be appropriately kept in the information loop
5. To have schedules, bedtimes and routines established
6. To know that it is ok to cry, be angry, frightened
7. To be hugged, held and cared for by a parent or other responsible adult

  • Excerpted from: Jeffreys, J.S.  Helping Grieving People–When tears Are Not Enough: A Handbook For Care Providers.  (2005) NY:Brunner-Routledge.

       

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