How To Help A Child Cope With Loss Of A Parent
Posted on: 25 January 2016
Children may be resilient, but after a catastrophic event like the death of a parent, many children will need help coping with their grief. In this terrible time, children respond best when they can feel safe, secure and when they are reassured that they have an adequate support system. These tips will help you provide these things for a child who has recently lost a parent.
Give Reassurance
After a parent dies, many children will experience anxiety in addition to their grief. Questions of who will be responsible for their care and what will happen with their parent gone can plague a child, compounding feelings of sadness. If you are a caregiver for a child who has recently lost their parent, one of your first priorities will be to reassure the child that you are taking responsibility for him or her, and you have a plan for the child's care. It's important that the child have his or her own designated space, a comfortable bed and a place to keep his or her possessions. This will show the child that the situation is under control.
If you are the child's other parent, you may have to answer questions that will assuage the child's concerns. Be sure that your child knows that you are able to provide for him or her, even without the other parent. Continue to discipline your child as normal, institute the same rules around the house, and make sure that all the normal chores are done. This will show your child that you are capable of providing a stable household, even without the other parent. You may need help during this time to keep the household running. If this is the case, reach out to relatives and friends. This will show your child that you have a support network in times of need, and that will help your child feel safe.
Provide Continuity
It is often easier for children to bounce back from their grief when they can pick up with normal routines. If your child takes a break from school after the death occurs, start sending your child back to school as soon as he or she is ready. Encourage your child to attend the normal after school activities and pay visits to his or her friends, just like he or she did before the death occurred.
Provide the Child with Professional Support
Many children who lose a parent need help from a professional to cope with their feelings. Grief counseling, such as from Gillies Funeral Chapel, is a valuable tool that can help a child find answers to questions and resolve feelings of anger or confusion. While the child may resist at first, it's important to keep him or her attending the sessions. Learning to talk about grief and experience grief and loss in healthy ways is a critical part of recovery.
For more information about how you can help a child cope with the loss of a parent, talk with a professional grief counselor. He or she will be able to answer any questions you may have, and give you more ideas.
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