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 Children need and deserve to know the truth about illness
and death. If we don't tell them the truth, what they imagine will always be far worse. White lies and euphemisms create
problems. These statements can leave them more frightened and confused. If we tell them that their mom is in heaven
and talk about what a great place heaven is and then we are sobbing, they become confused. Instead tell a child," Mommy
died and we believe that she is in heaven. It is a wonderful place, but I will miss her very much. I am glad that she got
to go to heaven, but I do wish she was here with us longer. She also wishes that she could have stayed longer as well." * if we simply tell them that they were so good that God wanted them with Him, they may fear
being good. * if we tell them
that their grandma has gone to sleep, they may fear going to bed. * if we tell them that Daddy went on a long trip, they may believe that Daddy has abandoned them. * if we tell them that death is darkness and nothingness,
they may become afraid of the dark.
Help children to grieve and express their emotional responses about the loss. A loss can be anticipated
as well. Children need to be validated. "I understand that you are angry that dad died. It makes me pretty angry
too sometimes." Teach your children to cry by letting them see you cry. Let them know that anger is okay. Also
some children don't feel upset and then feel guilty for not feeling much. They do not need to pretend to be upset.
Often the child wasn't even that close to the person who has died.
Help children to make sense out of what has happened. Tell the truth. Name the disease and let them
know that not all diseases are as serious as this one. Children feel less confused and scared when we tell them what to expect
in the course of treatment of a disease. If there was an accident also please let them know what has happened and what will
happen next. The more prepared they are the less out of control they feel.
Help children commemorate the loss. Light a candle together. Take time to tell stories
and share memories. Say a prayer or put up favorite photos. Make a memory box with special tokens and letters from the person.
Allow the child to make a donation with the child's allowance to an organization related to the death.On the first anniversary
of a death, look through scrap books, bake a cake, play the person's favorite music and eat their favorite meal. These actions
help to keep memories alive of the person as well as encourage expression of feelings. Developmental Issues of Grieving Children and Teens: Pre-school children: This is an egocentric age. They believe the world revolves around them
and often think that they cause things to happen. They often experience a death as abandonment. Their "magical thinking"
causes them to think it is their fault, or that they have the power to bring the deceased back. Some children who have lost
the disciplinarian parent, have been known to act out a lot, thinking that the parent will have to come back to discipline
the child. Their grief responses are short in duration but often intense and often at specific times. This may happen at dinner
time or bed time or getting to school time. Children this age tend to ask the same questions over and over again. They don't
understand the finality or universality of death yet. Often a child this age may say, " I know daddy died, but will he
come to my party?" Be patient and keep answering the questions. Many children of this age will "regress"
back to an earlier time of mastery. They may suddenly wet the bed, want to sleep in the parent's bed, want to be fed
or dressed, stop going on the potty, stop sleeping or napping, thumb sucking or other self soothing, baby talk, irritability
or become very clingy or worried about safety.
Helpful books: The Goldfish Went on Vacation: A Memoir of Loss (and Learning to Tell the Truth about it)by Patty Dann(2007) A woman tells the true story of her husbands diagnosis of a brain tumor, who was once fluent in multiple languages changes in front of her and her little 4 year old son into a mane whose brain can't remember the purpose of a paper-clip. Out of a family tragedy Dann has created a book that will surely help many others with young children. I Know I Made it Happen: A gentle book about feelings by Lynn Bennett Blackburn (1991) Wonderful book to read with children about magical thinking. Examples include divorce, illness, injury and death all raise issues for children about security. Children have a need to find a cause for important events and often blame themselves. When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Deathby Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope When a Special Person Dies by Janis Silverman (1999) Grieving Elementary Child: Concrete thinkers who are beginning to develop logical thinking patterns along with increased language and cognitive ability. After a death they question how their lives will be different, what will be the same, and how one knows the person is really dead. They are involved in how the body works and ask specific questions like, "Did the blood get all over the windshield?" or " Will her hair fall out now that she is dead?" Their questions can be graphic and gory, displaying a fear of bodily harm and mutilation. Try to give simple, honest answers to thier questions. 6-12 year olds want to see death as reversible but are beginning to understand the finality and permance of death. Common Behaviors to Expect:
How to help: Answer questions clearly and accurately. Provide art, journals, music and movement. Make time for physical outlets: sports, games, walks etc. Help the child identify their support system. Work with the child on school assignments. Encourage the child to take breaks from school work and to have some alone time when needed or time with the school nurse or school counselor. Having a safe space to go when needed is crucial. Allow for expression of feelings. Maintain routines and structure, but allow for flexibility. Classmates can be coached as well on how to welcome back to school a child who has been out with the death of a loved one. Treating the friend as "normal" as possible and try including him/her in activities. Do not tell children not to ask questions. Children will naturally ask questions and that helps to make things as normal as possible. Children who have had a loss, often want to talk about their loved one.
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