How To Help Your Grieving Child

* Take care of you. Exercise, eat well-balanced meals, stick to regular routines and reach out to others for support. This may be difficult when you are grieving, but taking care of yourself is important for you and your child.

* Be honest with your child. Discuss the loss in a simple, direct and age appropriate manner. Share clear and accurate information with your child.

* Acknowledge your child’s grief and recognize your child is grieving. Be careful not to impose your grief on your child but allow them to grieve in their own way. It is normal for your child to feel an array of emotions, such as, disbelief, sadness, anger, frustration and fear.

* Be creative, create rituals and new family traditions. Give your child a creative outlet to express their feelings through drawing, writing, crafts, music, art. Rituals can give your child tangible ways to acknowledge their grief. Lighting a candle at special times of the day or week, creating a memory scrapbook and sharing stories can honor the memory of your child’s loved one.

* Maintain clear expectation. Keep rules and boundaries consistent. Children find security when they know what is expected from them.

* Be patient as you and your child are grieving as there is no timeline to grief. Be present with your child. Your presence can help reassure your child as they are grieving.