The 35 Ways to Help a Grieving Child guidebook provides practical strategies for parents, caregivers, teachers, and professionals supporting children who have experienced the death of a loved one. Based on insights from grieving children and their families, this resource explores common grief reactions, emotional outlets, and ways to provide meaningful support during difficult times such as anniversaries, holidays, and memorial services.
What’s Inside?
- Understanding children’s grief – Explains how children of different ages process loss and what emotional responses to expect.
- Active listening and communication – Encourages adults to listen without judgment and answer children’s tough questions with honesty.
- Providing stability and security – Highlights the importance of maintaining routines and creating a safe space for children to express emotions.
- Creative outlets for grief – Suggests using art, writing, movement, and play to help children process their feelings.
- Supporting emotional regulation – Guides caregivers on validating emotions, allowing different grieving styles, and recognising grief triggers.
- Navigating milestones and difficult days – Tips on helping children cope with birthdays, holidays, and other significant days after a loss.
- Seeking additional support – Discusses when to consider counselling, peer support groups, or other professional resources.
How Can the Resource Be Used Practically?
- One-on-one support – Parents, carers, and professionals can use the guidebook to understand a child’s individual grief journey and provide appropriate support.
- Classroom and school settings – Teachers and school counsellors can use the guide to create a compassionate environment for grieving students.
- Therapeutic and counselling sessions – Mental health professionals can integrate the strategies into grief support programs and child therapy sessions.
- Community and support groups – Facilitators can use the guide to structure peer discussions and group activities that help grieving children feel less alone.
- Helping children express and process grief – Activities like journaling, drawing, storytelling, and movement-based exercises can be used to support emotional expression.
This comprehensive grief support guide is an invaluable resource for parents, educators, and professionals seeking to help children navigate the complexities of grief. By applying these strategies, adults can provide comfort, stability, and encouragement, allowing children to process their emotions and build resilience after a significant loss.
