Children grieve
Sometimes, we as adults get caught up in our grief and fail to notice.

Children grieve longer than adults.  Younger children  have a shorter attention span and a more difficult time handling their emotions.  Their understanding grows as they become older and they re-grieve.

Loss is different for each person.  We also handle emotions in different ways.  Children need to know they are loved no matter what.

Children need a stable and secure environment.  Keep routines as normal as possible.  Grief is  natural for us all.

Talk about the death, show your own emotions.  Try to answer questions honestly.  Ask why they asked.

Books may be helpful.  Go to your local library.  Ask for age-appropriate books.  Review them, as all books do not always explain in a way that would be acceptable to you.

Children have a different understanding at different ages:

Age 0-2:  

• No knowledge of death.  
• Can sense tension and fear.  
• Can pick up on grief and sadness.

Age 3-4

• Do not think of death as final
• Need to be told again and again
• May think they have caused the death

Age 5-6

• Curious about the physical changes
• Use simple but direct words
• Worry about whether they too will die.

Age 6-9

• Understand that all living things die
• Know that death is final
• Need details about death

Age 9-12

• Understand how death occurs
• Question what happens next
• Worry about deaths of parents