Grief and Bereavement for Children

Children and their feelings are often overlooked when death occurs. Age plays an important part in how much children understand and how we can help them with their grief. These articles explain how children grieve and ways to support them.

Children's Developmental Stages Concepts of Death and Responses

Each child is unique in his or her understanding of death and response to grief. This understanding is largely influenced by the child’s developmental level and age.

Experiencing Grief as a Teenager

A teen who experiences the death of a loved one needs to know that there is no “right” or “wrong” way to grieve. But there are some helpful and some not-so-helpful ways to grieve.

Guidelines for Children Attending Funerals and Memorial Services

Many factors come into play, including the child's age, maturity and ability to understand basic concepts about death, dying and loss. These guidelines about children at funerals can help.

Guidelines for Helping Grieving Children

Children experience grief, and they approach and process it differently than adults. There are ways adults can help, and there are ways adults can cause harm.

Helping Children Cope With Public Tragedies and Natural Disasters

Whenever a public tragedy or natural disaster occurs, children can become confused or frightened. Parents want to know how to best meet a child’s needs.

What to Say When a Child Asks about Death

Children should be told the truth. Their questions should be encouraged and answered. Here are some ways to do that.

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