When children lose one of their parents to death, they may worry that their other parent will die as well. This worry can also come if another person who has been very important to them (such as a grandparent) dies. What can we do to keep those worries to a minimum? We lay the first [...]
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Helping Children Cope with Grief during the Holiday Season
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November 2, 2011
2 Responses
Holidays are normally a time of joy and celebration amongst families; however, they can heighten children’s sense of loss. Whether it is loss from a death or a divorce, a child is more likely to acknowledge the fact that the relative is missing during these times that are spent with family. According to recent census [...]
‘Happy’ Holidays? Not for the Newly Bereaved
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October 2, 2011
1 Response
This holiday season, an estimated one in 20 Americans will be grieving the loss of someone dear. And for some bereaved folks, the loss is so profound in their lives that they shudder at the thought of celebrating anything, especially a season that is supposed to be merry and jolly. If you are dreading [...]
Talking to Your Children about 9/11
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September 9, 2011
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It’s hard to believe, but this September 11th is going to be the 10th anniversary of 9/11. For most of us, this milestone anniversary is bound to provoke a lot of powerful emotions. As we remember back to that tragic day, many of us will be filled with images of fear, disbelief, and incredible sadness. [...]
100 Great Stress Busters for Kids
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January 14, 2011
2 Responses
Stress is the normal nervous tension we feel in our bodies when we are making a transition in our life. Change is sometimes predictable like the birth of a baby, transferring to a higher school grade or graduation from high school. Then there are changes that happen unexpectedly, like coming down with a major illness, [...]
Welcome Mat for Grief in the School Counselor’s Office
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November 15, 2010
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I had my back to my office door as I was pounding away on the computer, writing parent permission letters to attend a grief group. After sensing a presence, I turned and saw a student standing there, somber, yet alert and extremely pensive. “Hi, I’m Mrs. J.” I smiled, staying seated, somehow believing it was [...]
7 Tips for Helping Grieving Children
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November 10, 2010
6 Responses
The leaves fall in clusters from the huge branches overhead laying a thick crimson-orange blanket over my yard. School has been in session for a couple of months now, and special family celebrations are fast approaching. Holidays, birthdays and other special occasions are a time when faith, family and friends are what matter most. Bereaved [...]
A Memory Game for Grieving Children
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September 4, 2010
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This version of the typical children’s memory game (known in some circles as Concentration) is for grieving families to share memories of a departed one. It was therapeutic for me to make, and while playing, the kids rehearse memories as they refine their recall and spacial skills. Materials: – cardboard large enough to make your [...]
Children Without Grief Support May Turn to Bullying
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July 7, 2010
2 Responses
News headlines are increasingly filled with tragic stories of youth becoming violent because they seemingly are lashing out to their peers as a way of expressing their anger, which I believe is often a result of a significant change in their family. While bullying is a recent issue in the public eye, it is an [...]
Mother Finds Comfort in Living Her Daughter’s Values
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June 6, 2010
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On the first anniversary of our daughter’s death, my husband and I held a graveside service in her memory. It was a brief service because the February temperature hovered around zero and the wind chill was fierce. Despite the weather, 10 people gathered to remember her. I passed out a list of our daughter’s values. [...]
Haiti’s Children Need Emotional Support after Quake
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March 19, 2010
1 Response
As the world pulls together to deliver physical necessities such as food, water and shelter, we must remember to respond to the emotional healing that is needed nationwide in Haiti as well. Following the earthquake, the children will experience post-traumatic stress and they will have deep scars, physically and emotionally, that must be tended to. [...]
What to Say to Children About Death
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February 5, 2010
1 Response
Death is a difficult and sensitive topic to discuss with children. So often adults feel at a loss for words. Without knowing what to say or how to say it, many parents and professionals avoid children’s questions. Some refuse to respond at all. Eight-year-old Alice explained a disturbing event. She told her teacher about her [...]
Helping Children Grieve During the Holidays
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January 3, 2010
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The holiday season is painful for adults after the death of a loved one, but it can be even more isolating and distressing for children if they are not given ample guidance from the adults in their lives. Here are some suggestions for how to help your children during the holidays: 1. Suppress the urge [...]
Helping the Grieving Child in School
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November 23, 2009
1 Response
Children’s grief should be seen as an ongoing life process that is approachable through words, activities and non-verbal communication. Educators can use this understanding to create a safe environment for parents, teachers and children to acknowledge and process difficult feelings. So often adults rely on the prevailing myth that children are too young too grieve. [...]
Death of Child Affects Relationships Throughout Family
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November 12, 2009
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When anyone we love dies our lives are changed; things we had planned will no longer be the same. The death of a child is often the least expected death, and the ongoing effect upon the remaining family can seem endless. One of the commonest things I hear said is: “You don’t expect to attend [...]
Christmas ‘Gifts’ Never the Same After Sister’s Death
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November 8, 2009
2 Responses
Nothing that can be wrapped in a box could ever compare to the “gift” of my older sister, Dawn. I still miss her keenly around the holidays, but I am thankful that she was a part of my childhood. Today, as Christmas approaches, holiday memories poignantly remind me of how love, life and loss can [...]
“New Song” Organization Helps the Bereaved
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November 1, 2009
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by Sandy Fox If your family has suffered the death of a loved one and needs support dealing with the pain and the grief journey, an organization called NEW SONG, started in the Phoenix, Arizona, area provides nurturing support for grieving children and their families. It also offers comprehensive grief education for volunteers and professionals [...]
Children’s book deals with sibling loss
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October 6, 2009
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My first book, The Glass Table, for children 8-12 years, has just launched today on Amazon.com. In The Glass Table, fourteen-year-old Jack Irwin-Hunter hikes to Lake Como after running away from home. Since his younger brother was killed in a tragic accident, Jack has suffered alone while his parents mourned their loss. He believes his [...]
Dad Troubled by Accidental Death of Son’s Kitten
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September 21, 2009
2 Responses
By – Marty Tousley, CNS-BC, FT, DCC Question from a reader: I received a phone call last night from my frantic wife with my 13-year-old son screaming and crying in the background. He put the recliner chair down and it crushed his 12-week-old kitten. She died on the way to the vet’s . . . [...]
Creating a Memory Box with Kids
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September 17, 2009
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Here’s how to create a memory box to celebrate the life of your loved one. Invite your family and friends to join in too. Place any special memento inside that you and your loved one shared. Or write notes to your loved one about the things you would like to share with them about what [...]
Helping your Child with Loss and Grief
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September 4, 2009
1 Response
How can we help our children deal with deaths of loved ones? Here are some ways. Prepare the children for what will come. The more open you can be about what is ahead, the less uncomfortable your children will be. Explain what the funeral will be like, what they will see and what feelings they [...]
Youth Violence Often the Result of Traumatic Losses
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September 3, 2009
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By Suzy Yehl Marta – Josh was a quiet kid, a seventh grader in a mid-size, Midwest city whose parents’ divorce left him bereft. Fortunately, his school offered a peer-support group for students struggling with family transitions, and Josh chose to attend. Meeting every week, the kids in the group shared their pain, confusion and divided [...]
Child Grief Camp Director Shares Activities that Work
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August 21, 2009
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I have just returned home from our third annual Camp Erin, a most magical place where children and teens can laugh and cry, celebrate and commemorate. Camp Erin is a grief camp that is held each year in the mountains of Big Bear in California. Kids from all walks of life come together with a common [...]
Teen Grief with Dr. Gloria Horsley
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August 19, 2009
1 Response
Dr. Gloria C. Horsley; National Board Member of The Compassionate Friends speaks about parents helping teens cope with loss. Dr.’s Gloria and Heidi Horsley co-founded The Open to Hope Foundation and co-host the weekly radio show Healing the Grieving Heart. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDk0PHuZoEg[/youtube]
Helping a Child After a Loss
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August 6, 2009
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By Cathy R. Blanford, M.Ed. – Begin by taking care of yourself. If you do not have someone to be there for you, you may have difficulty being there for a child who needs you. Include children in what is happening. Give them information in language that they can understand. Encourage them to be a [...]
