"Serving others as we would be served"

 

Don’t Forget About the Children:

When a death occurs in a family or to someone close, it is a tragic experience. It is never forgotten, even by a child. Children, however, are often overlooked during times of bereavement. Sometimes adults think children do not understand or they will get over it quickly because they are young. These attitudes ignore the grief children experience.

Each child reacts differently to death. A death experience may make some children more mature when they are suddenly forced to accept more responsibility, while other children may become disobedient and hostile.

Sometimes after a death, children need and want to talk about it with someone their own age, but sometimes other children are not willing to listen. Most of the time, this is caused because they do not understand what the bereaved is feeling. As a result, a child who has experienced a death may sometimes wonder if he or she is the only one to feel this way.

Children need to be helped and supported by everyone, young and old. The first thing people can do is to start telling children about death at an early age. Use the child’s interest in a dead insect or pet to help them understand that death is forever. People confuse children by using words such as “passed away or lost” instead of “dead” to describe a deceased loved one. This gives the child the idea that death is temporary.

To share grief with and include children makes it easier for everyone. Children are human beings that need support and attention while experiencing the death of a loved one. Never forget the grieving children.