How Much Time is Normal for a Child Grieving?
There are a few factors that come into play when children grieve. Above all, their own age and maturity level is going to be a big factor in how they react to grief. For younger children, it may not be as understood, and it could be awhile before they accept that someone isn’t going to be in their lives anymore. This depends on how much the two interacted as well when the person was still alive.
If your son or daughter seems different, exhibiting listless, sad, quiet, or non-verbal behaviors, there is a good chance that they are still grieving. Typically, children need a couple weeks, but may still experience grief during certain situations or around certain holidays, such as a person’s birthday.
However, if you notice that this behavior goes on for more than a month, and there are significant repercussions such as failing grades, loss of appetite, or other dangerous behaviors, you may want to seek out professional help.
