Audience Category: For Families

There are two types of losses that occur in everyone’s life. “Maturational losses” predictably occur during the life cycle. “Situational losses” are caused by unexpected or unusual circumstances. Children will likely experience both types during the preschool years, and will need adult support and recognition of these losses.

Learn what grief and loss looks like to a preschool-age child, and what you can do to help.

At some point in their childhood, most children will experience the death of a friend. It can be challenging to break the news to a child that his or her friend is gone. The death of a friend is difficult for children to understand. How kids respond depends greatly on their age, experiences, and personality.… Continue reading When a Friend Dies

When a natural disaster occurs, children need to know that they are safe and will be kept safe. Will I be okay? Will you be okay? Will everyone I know be okay?

Other than the death of a parent, the breakup of a family can have the most devastating effect on children. Their lives change permanently as divorce is not a temporary state; it is an on-going process often involving parental conflicts, custody battles, and families fighting. The child witnesses and experiences everything.

A variety of helpful tips for helping children cope with stress, especially after a loss.

Children spend a great deal of their time in preschool with teachers and other children. Even at the earliest of ages, young children develop meaningful relationships with their classmates. Teachers have important roles in the lives of children and when they are suddenly absent for a long period from school a child suffers a loss.… Continue reading Helping a Child Cope With the Loss of a Teacher or Classmate

Young children can have a hard time understanding illness and disease. Because they can really only understand what they can observe with their senses, it is very difficult for them to understand the biology of the body and how illness effects the person. The child may feel responsible for the family member’s illness and may… Continue reading Helping a Child Cope With the Serious Illness of a Family Member

Children need lots of love and support from the caring adults in their life to cope with the loss and reach constructive grief resolution. When talking with children about death, adults should speak on the child’s developmental level, be respectful of cultural backgrounds, and show sensitivity towards the situation. Listen to what the child is… Continue reading How Caring Adults Can Support a Grieving Young Child

Tips for talking to children about death.