Help Your Child Cope With Grief

IN A busy bookstore, an exasperated mother cried out to a salesperson:  "You have a store full of books but nothing to help my child!"  The mother was seeking guidance to help her young son cope with the sudden death of a close family member. 

This mother's concern was valid. How distressing it is for a young child to face the reality of death! Children thrive under the care of their family, yet death  can take away a loved one with whom a child has formed a close bond. As a parent, how can you help your child when such a loss is imminent or has already occurred?

Of course, faced with the loss of a loved one, you may be struggling to cope with your own emotions; you may feel anguished and preoccupied. However, you must not forget that your child needs your support.  "Children overhear bits and pieces of conversations, and when left to their own devices, frequently distort or misinterpret information," notes a publication distributed by a hospice in Minnesota, U.S.A. It further states:  "Children need to be told the facts." So it may be wise to explain the facts to your children, according to  their level of understanding. This is challenging, since children may differ greatly  in their ability to comprehend what is happening. -1 Corinthians 13:11. 

Next time: How to Explain Death

From the Watchtower magazine, 2008