Grief Support

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The death of a family member or friends is painful, and children can feel the loss strongly. Below, you will find some information and resources that will hopefully assist you in giving children comfort and support. These resources will give you some information about the stages of grief, common feelings, and impact on the child as well as helpful versus not helpful words and referrals for outside services. Click the links for more information.

What to Say Sometimes it can be hard knowing what to say when a little one losses someone that they love. Here are some tips for talking from the Coalition to Support Grieving Students.

Should they go to the funeral? Here you will find some suggestions from The Coalition to Support Grieving Students about how to approach the funeral or memorial service with children.

10 Reasons to read aloud during times of tragedy

Reading List Ideas on what to read and where to find them.

Supports Find information on referrals to grief counseling services, grief group information, and more.

Stages of Grief

Denial: state of shock; person may feel numb or appear not to care; isolation may occur.

Anger: Feelings of Abandonment cause anger to be aimed at people or things.

Bargaining: Thoughts of what "could have been done" to prevent death.

Depression: Trouble with sleep, appetite, energy; feelings of self-pity, loneliness, emptiness, anxiety may accompany crying spells.

Acceptance: come to terms with death.

Impact on Children and Their Feelings & Behaviors

- Difficulty concentrating/focusing; distractability

- Anger/aggression

- Comments/behaviors that may seem cold or selfish

- Depression/anxiety

- Exaggerated pre-existing conditions

- Isolation;decreased communication

- Risky and immature behaviors

- Sleep problems

References: Coalilition to Support Grieving Students. (2017, March 16). What Not To Say. Retrieved from http://grievingstudents.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/NYL-1B-What-to-Say.pdf

Taylor, Julie F. (2016). Supporting Grieving Students:Strategies to Foster Resiliency in Students and Create Grief-Stricken Sensitive Schools [PowerPoint slides]

Reference in this site to any specific commercial product, process, or service is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Austintown Local School District.