Helping Children Cope with Their Grief
Grief looks different for everyone – especially children. Unlike adults, children may not fully understand the permanence of loss, and their emotions can surface in unexpected ways. Whether it’s through tears, silence, play, or even acting out, a child’s response to grief is deeply personal and ever-changing.
As caregivers, parents, or trusted adults, it is important to create a safe space where children feel heard and supported. Encourage open conversations by using clear, age-appropriate language when speaking about death.
Let them know it is okay to feel sad, confused, angry, or scared – and that all of these feelings are normal. Maintaining routines can help provide a sense of stability, while also offering children the freedom to express their emotions creatively, through drawing, story-telling, or memory-making activities.
Sometimes, professional support from a counselor specializing in child grief may be helpful, particularly if a child’s distress persists or worsens over time.
Above all, children need reassurance. Reassurance that they are loved. That they are not alone. And that, in time, healing is possible.
