For anybody, grief is a complex process that is very difficult to navigate but for children who are already fine navigating life is difficult as they may find it hard to understand the loss of a loved one and be unable to regulate their emotions like an adult. This blog will provide some advice to help you support your grieving child.
Expressing Their Feelings
It's beneficial for children to communicate their feelings. A terrific approach to start a conversation with your child about death is to read one of the many excellent children's books on the subject. Drawing images, creating scrapbooks, going through photo albums, or telling tales can all be useful outlets for kids who find it difficult to express their feelings verbally. Having a memorial for them to remember the loved one is essential.
Attending The Funeral Memorial
It is totally up to you and your kid to decide whether or not to attend the funeral. Funerals can be useful in bringing about closure, but some kids aren't prepared for such a traumatic event. Never make a youngster go to a funeral by force. Be careful to prepare your child for what they will see if they decide to attend if they want to. Explain that funerals are highly sad occasions and that it is likely that some people may weep. You should also prepare them for a coffin if one will be present. Remember that children's emotions might change at any time, even when they are well-prepared.
It Is Normal To Be Sad
Children take their cues from the behaviours of individuals around them. They can believe that they must likewise "be strong" if you tell them it's okay to grieve while attempting to conceal your own pain from them. The greatest course of action is to express your grief as fully as you can so that others may witness it and realise that it's acceptable to be sad, angry, or emotional. In a similar vein, the more you can discuss it with them, the more comfortable they will feel talking about it.
You need to let them know that talking to you, or, if they'd rather, a different friend or family, is okay, and that it's OK to feel sad since someone precious has passed away.
Stability
Children might reasonably feel concerned about their surviving parent passing away if one of their parents has passed away. Children must be taken care of and informed about their carers. They feel more secure knowing that many things will remain the same. It is beneficial to maintain some of their regular habits, such as going to a Saturday football game or a certain friend's house for a play date.
At Stewarton Memorials we understand how difficult it is for children to process grief and know how important the right memorial for their loved one is. Please contact us for further information and support on modern funerals.
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