Bereaved Children’s Week 2017 is on from the 13th to the 18th of November.
The Key messages …Children grieve to:
- Each child in a family grieves differently due to their personality, gender and the relationship they had with the person who has died.
- Unlike adults, children dip in and out of grief. It can be intermittent and intense but also can pass quickly, distracted by friends and activities. Children’s grief is not a once off event
- Children tend to protect parents from their pain and upset. This often leaves their grief unrecognised.
- Children try to control their grief holding it in and pretending nothing has happened. This can be isolating.
- Death can be frightening for children who may not have the information to help them understand what is happening.
- Supporting Bereaved Children is best done at home in the child’s natural environment, with the support of family and friends. It is ok to be sad with your bereaved child