How children grieve
Children may express their reactions to a death openly or not seem to be concerned about the event. Often children grieve in “doses” and may fluctuate between appearing to be unaffected and bouts of expressing grief. They may also hide their own feelings to protect a parent or another family member who may be grieving or distressed.
A child’s level of understanding about death changes over time. They may ask questions about death e.g. What is death? Death is when the body stops working. Be aware that they may want to know more about the death as they get older and gain more capacity for understanding. They may raise the subject weeks and months later to check out questions and their feelings, so be prepared to revisit and repeat conversations. It is also natural for children to process their grief through their play – for example, playing funerals or having themes of death in their play.
There are a number of normal reactions young children may have to loss. There is no ‘typical’ reaction. Children react differently depending on things like proximity, age, developmental stage, temperament and previous experiences.
What to expect from bereaved preschool aged children
- Be greatly affected by the emotions of those around them
- May not stay sad for long – often alternating between crying and playing
- Be openly curious about death, possibly asking questions that you find confronting
- Become fussy, irritable, withdrawn, or show signs of insecurity
- Experience distressing dreams and nightmares
- Behavioural regression e.g. bed wetting, sleep problems or clinging
- Feel bewildered and physically search for their loved one who has died
What to expect from bereaved school aged children
- Experience a difficult transition period and want to see death as reversible, but are beginning to see death as final
- Be very curious about death and burial rituals and ask detailed questions
- Can imagine death as a bogeyman or ghost
- May play games pretending to die
- May be angry over the death and focus their anger at certain people such as anyone involved with the death i.e. doctors, nurses, parents
- Be unwilling to express their feelings
- Take time to absorb the reality of what has happened and initially appear unaffected by the death
- May blame themselves
- Experience disturbed sleep and appetite, poor school performance and experience physical reactions e.g. stomach aches and headaches
- Worry about who will look after them if a parent or other care giver dies
- “Act out” feelings
- Older school aged children may be concerned about what their peers think and feel anxious about being seen as “different”. They may feel isolated, because no one else has had a similar experience.
What can parents and caregivers do for children?
Whilst we cannot shield our children from loss, there are things we can do to support healthy ways of grieving. You are a very important support for your child, but firstly, you need to be aware of how you are coping and attend to your own needs. You may want some support to manage your own natural feelings and emotions such as helplessness, sadness, fear, and anger. You won’t be able to provide support to children until you have some strategies to manage your own feelings and emotions. Children will respond in an environment where they know you care for them and know you will act in response to their signals and signs.
When you have negotiated the support you need, the following can be helpful:
Ensure your responses are age appropriate
Be attuned to children’s perceptions of death. Gently help them understand that the person who has died is not coming back, but also reassure them that the deceased is not in any pain. Try to avoid metaphors such as ‘gone to sleep’, ‘at rest’ or ‘lost’ as this may be confusing for children who can take these terms literally and may develop fears that they or others may die once they fall asleep.
Provide reassurance
Don’t underestimate the impact a loss has on a child even if they do not respond as expected. Reassure them that they will be cared for and that over time their pain will lessen. Maintain routines (including usual discipline) as much as possible, as this creates a sense of safety and predictability for them.
Give children the opportunity to express their grief in their own way
Make time and space for your child to express their grief though drawing, painting, storytelling, collage, and music, making memory boxes, writing poetry or letters to the person who has died. This can provide an avenue to express feelings that are difficult to articulate. Making feelings concrete, and talking about their work is therapeutic in itself. Resist interpreting their work. Allow them to tell you about it.
Don’t hurry grief
Psychological healing time is different to chronological healing time. Children will often break their feelings up into manageable amounts, as it’s difficult for them to tolerate ongoing, intense pain. Therefore, it is not unusual to see a variety of emotions unfold in a short span of time as they slowly work through their grief.
Be consistent
Children may need to ask questions over and over again to make sense of what has happened. Be patient and provide clear, consistent answers that they will understand. Don’t be afraid to ask the child what they are thinking or feeling, as they will often be forthcoming if they feel that they will be heard and accepted.
Model healthy grieving
Model healthy expressions of grief so that children understand that it’s ok for them to do the same. Resist trying to fix children’s pain, by avoidance or distraction.
Living with the pain of loss
For some children, this may be the first time that they have experienced profound loss. Fears may arise that they might be abandoned again or that the pain they feel will continue indefinitely. They may try to protect the feelings of others by avoiding displays of emotion. Talk through your child’s fears at a level they can understand.
What about adolescents?
Adolescents are starting to think much more like adults. They have the capacity to understand the nature of death and its finality, and they also understand that they themselves could die. Young people in this age group also have very strong bonds with their friends and are likely to experience great distress over the deaths of their friends. They will be very different from each other in the way they grieve with some wanting to be surrounded by friends and family, whilst others may want to deal with their grief privately. Adolescents may:
- Understand more fully that their lives will be different and that their opportunities and security may be affected, especially by the death of a parent.
- Feel fearful, angry and / or resentful that death has come to their lives
- Act with bravado, as though they are not affected.
- Try to take on more responsibility, to look after others
- Experience a roller coaster of emotions, with unexpected changes in mood, which may seem demanding and non-supportive by others
- Experience feelings of guilt when they appear to be getting on with their lives
- Act out through risk taking behaviours.
Be available
Adolescents may try not to show their feelings of loss. Provide an accepting, open, communicative environment in which to grieve. Let them know it is okay to feel the emotions that they feel, and that you will be there for them if they need to talk.
Talk about the loss
Invite your teen to talk about their loss and / or the person who has died but respect their choice to do so. Ask specific questions and answer their questions honestly and clearly. If you don’t know the answer to something, say so. Share memories, thoughts, beliefs without pressuring them to adopt your perspective.
Allow for adjustment, and monitor for warning signs
Because grief is not linear, adults need to understand the range of emotions that can surface for the grieving adolescent. Allow some leeway while providing a secure, consistent environment. Where possible, maintain routines. Be aware for signs of depression, violence, drug/alcohol abuse, or changes in personality.
Support connection
Think about the nature of your adolescent’s loss, and closeness of the relationship they shared with the person for whom they are grieving. Acknowledge the depth of their loss. Set aside your time, attention, and availability. Facilitate connection with friends when desired.
Mourn together
Be aware of the messages adolescents may be receiving from those around them about how to grieve. Model healthy communication and the appropriate expression of the many feelings associated with loss. Let the young person show you how they grieve.