S3E6 -How to help children cope with the loss of a loved one

[00:00:00] Hello dear listeners, welcome back to another episode of Grief Untangled, Untangling the Threads of Grief, Healing and Hope. I am your host, Coach GD. You are companion on this journey through the intricacies of emotions. Today we are diving into something really important. How

[00:00:20] children feel when someone in their family passes away? It's not easy and we often don't realize how complicated their feelings can be. So let's explore this together and learn how we can help them. Let's start with how kids feel when they experience the loss

[00:00:41] of someone special. It's not just straight forward sadness, their emotions can be all over the place. Like grown-ups, kids also have a mix of emotions when they are sad. In their world, missing someone can be really hard and not having that love-over person around

[00:01:00] can make everything seem different. Let's try to explore how they feel and what strategies we can bring in to support them in their grief journey. In the language of little hearts, children often express their grief through various avenues. From the youngest to the

[00:01:26] oldest, their unique expressions become whispers of loss and love. Our first strategy is to open the door of communication wide, creating a safe space for them to share their feelings, memories and questions about their loved ones. Sometimes the symphony of grief plays silently

[00:01:46] through behaviors. Our next strategy involves maintaining routines and providing consistency. We can find stability in the familiar amidst the waves of emotion. It's the steadiness of routine that can anchor the tender hearts during the storm of grief. Imagine grief as

[00:02:06] an expressive play where creativity becomes a healing force. Encouraging children to express themselves through arts, drawing or music is our third strategy. These creative outlets become bridge connecting their heart to healing, allowing emotions to find a canvas

[00:02:25] for expression. The canvas extends to the school environment. A strategy here involves providing age-appropriate resources, books or support groups. Schools become comforting spaces where children can feel understood and connected, forming a supportive network during their grief journey. Grief often whispers through the body, manifesting in physical symptoms.

[00:02:52] Our fifth strategy is to listen and validate these emotions, acknowledge the language their bodies speak and seek professional help if needed. It's in understanding this physical expression that we offer a holistic approach to support. Enter the dance of regression

[00:03:09] where children may revert to earlier behaviors, finding comfort in habits from a time when the world felt simpler. Strategy six is to be patient and understanding. Provide a gentle hand guiding them through the dance with love and reassurance. Regression becomes a way

[00:03:28] for them to find comfort in familiarity during the grieving process. Riding the emotional roller coaster calls for our seventh strategy, validating and normalizing feelings. Let them know it's okay to experience a range of emotion. Together we embrace the peaks and valleys

[00:03:47] of this emotion journey, creating a safe space for them to express their grief. Lastly, we face the shadow of avoidance. Our eighth strategy involves creating memorials or participating in rituals to remember the loved ones. This foster connections and continuity, guiding them through

[00:04:08] the delicate balance of remembering and moving forward. Thank you for joining us in the exploration of how children express and navigate grief on grief untangled. May these strategies become gentle guides as we support the tender hearts of grieving children. Until next time, be well

[00:04:27] and take care of those little hearts around you.