How do our children process grief?
Introduction
Grief is an individual experience and that is especially true when it comes to how children process their loss. Every child will react differently to their loved one's death but there are some common reactions that you can be on the lookout for.
When a loved one dies, children can have a wide range of reactions.
When a loved one dies, children can have a wide range of reactions. Some feel very angry; others are scared or sad. Some may become withdrawn or clingy and want to sleep with their parents at night. Other children may not want to talk about the person who died because they're afraid to bring up memories of them. Children may also experience symptoms such as nightmares, difficulty sleeping and eating and fearfulness when faced with new situations.
You should discuss your child's grief with your doctor if you notice any changes in their behaviour that are extreme for them—such as becoming overly aggressive or unusually quiet—or if these behaviours last longer than two weeks after the death of your loved one. It's also important to let your child know that it's okay for them to miss the person who passed away; don't try too hard not to cry or talk about them once they leave the room because this could make your child feel isolated from everyone else around them.
Children may also be worried about their own safety and feel guilty if they believe it's their fault that the person died.
Children may also be worried about their own safety and feel guilty if they believe it's their fault that the person died. This is normal, but reassure your child that they are safe.
Another thing to keep in mind is that children often blame themselves when a person dies. Children can't always understand that death is inevitable; they think it's something that could have been prevented if only they'd done something differently (or not at all). Reassure your child that you love them, let them know that even though somebody died, it wasn't because of anything they did or didn't do—and don't forget to explain what happened so your child understands why the person died (if possible).
Children can feel angry with their parents or other adults who are grieving.
You may find your child is angry at you or other family members for grieving. They may be angry with the deceased for dying and leaving them alone or even angry at themselves for not being able to save them. It is normal for children to feel this way. Be aware of how your own grief affects your ability to help your child through this difficult time and seek support if necessary.
Sometimes grieving children may seem to be doing better than other family members.
It's also important to remember that children are resilient and have a lot of inner strength. Sometimes, they may be able to cope with the loss better than adults. If your child is more willing to talk about the person who died, this can be a good sign that he or she is doing okay.
It's also possible for grieving children to help others in the family cope with their grief. For example, if an older sibling was close to their grandfather and wants to participate in his memorial service but cannot physically attend because they live far away, they might make videos or pictures of themselves telling stories about him after he passed away and send those instead; this would be helpful for both you as parents (because it helps you remember fond memories) and other family members who would not otherwise get a chance at hearing these stories directly from him before he died (like distant relatives).
It's important to remember that grief is an individual experience and everyone's experiences are different.
As a parent, it can be hard to know how your child is processing the loss of someone they loved and how you should help them through it. It's important to remember that grief is an individual experience and everyone's experiences are different.
As children, we often think of grief as something that happens when someone dies—but grief actually begins after a loss occurs and continues until the child has worked through their feelings about what happened. Grief isn't just about death; it also happens when there's an ending or disruption in our lives that causes us pain or sadness (like moving away). Even though our children may not understand what death means, they still feel its impact on their lives.
Grief looks different for every person who experiences it, but these tips will help you support your child during this tough time.
You should know that the way your child grieves will be different than the way you grieve and that's okay. They may not show any outward signs of grief either. When a person dies there are many feelings that come with it but children may not have the language to express what they're feeling or understand why they feel that way. Some kids might even feel guilty if they believe it was their fault or if they didn't do something right while their parent was alive (like tending to their medical needs).
Some children also can experience anger towards other adults in their lives who are grieving too. That's normal because children don't always realise how hard it is for people to deal with loss; especially when those people are parents who usually provide comfort and security for them throughout childhood years. If a child does lash out at an adult who is grieving—and this does happen occasionally—the best thing for everyone involved would be for them to explain how important it is to not only take care of themselves during this difficult time but also to try as much as possible to not focus on blaming others either directly or indirectly through their actions (or lack thereof).
Conclusion
It’s important to remember that grief is an individual experience and everyone's experiences are different. However, these tips can help you support your child during this tough time.