How Children Heal from a Loss
Adults, teenagers, young children, and toddlers all deal with grief differently. Age definitely plays a factor in the maturity of a person, but it’s also about your child’s personality as well. If you know that you have a kid that is prone to emotional upset, dealing with a relative’s passing can be something that is not easily wiped away. In these cases, you want to provide comfort and ask what your kid needs, if anything. Sometimes, space is better because it gives a kid some time to themselves to think about what you said and what’s to expect.
In other times, you want to give your kid activities to do with you and keep them closer to you. This is especially true if you already have an isolated child. You never want to let a kid sit alone with their thoughts for too long because it could lead to extremely painful grieving. You should respond to their emotions with care to what they’re feeling, as well.
Activities like cooking, playing games, making art, and traveling can help children think about what’s going on while not being left alone to dwell on their sadness and pain. You want kids to feel like they are supported and answered, which means paying attention to their needs and what they ask for during this time.
