Children’s Grief Awareness Day

Observed every year on the third Thursday in November.

Designed to help us all become more aware of the needs of grieving children. This day provides an opportunity to make sure that grieving children receive the support they need and raise awareness of the painful impact that the death of a loved one has in the life of a child.

Many children who are grieving feel alone and forgotten. In fact it is often said that children are the forgotten grievers. We assume that they will bounce back, are resilient and will get on with their lives. The reality is grieving children sometimes feel isolated as if no one understands the pain and loss they feel.

“Children’s Grief Awareness Day allows us to advocate that any child that is old enough to love is old enough to mourn. We can all work together to be advocates and teach other adults how children are natural mourners but that they need the love and support of caring adults. To be “bereaved” in part means – “to have special needs.” This day allows us to highlight what some of the special needs of grieving children are and help others create places where children experiencing grief are safe to openly and authentically mourn. And we know that if children mourn well, they go on to live well and love well.” ~ Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt