Posted by NHS Choices on July 26, 2017 · Leave a Comment
In this brief video, NHS Health Visitor Ruth discusses how to explain death to your young child and help them with the grieving process.
Editor’s Note: Video Highlights
Babies
- Babies do not understand death, but they do recognize when someone they love is missing so they may have feeding and sleeping difficulties.
- It will be helpful to:
- Continuously reassure them
- Maintain routines
2 Years and Older
- At this age, children see death as reversible.
It will be helpful to: - Be specific – tell them someone has died – not is “gone”
- Verify their understanding and clarify questions
- Maintain routines including playtime
- Reassure them that they are in no way responsible for the death of their loved one
- Understand that they may not express their grief – this is not a sign they aren’t experiencing it
- They may ask the same questions repeatedly to check that facts haven’t changed
- Talk with them about their feelings when they are ready
- Help them find a way to remember their loved one by looking through photos or creating a memory book
From www.nhs.uk
