The mourning process is difficult for anyone and everyone to go through, but it’s particularly bewildering and scary for a child who’s never experienced anything like this in life before now. As their parent, you’ll no doubt want to make sure that they get through the process and come out the other side stronger, especially if they’ve lost a grandparent or someone they were close to. Here are some of the ways to help them.
Expect it to Take Time
The first thing to know about this mourning process that your child is about to go through is that it’s going to take time. You shouldn’t expect things to be back to normal quickly because it’s a process that can take different amounts of time depending on the individual child and their emotional disposition. The last thing you should try to do is rush them, as tempting as it might be.
Keep Things Simple and Clear
When you’re talking to your kids about what’s happened and what’s going on, it’s important to speak with clarity and simplicity. Nevertheless, you need to communicate in a way that’s appropriate to their age. If you treat them as less mature than they are, that can backfire for you. And if you give them information that they’re too young to handle, that can have a negative impact too, so getting the balance right is tough.
Keep Them Informed So They Know What to Expect
It’s a good idea to keep them informed about what’s happening and what they can expect from the whole mourning experience. They probably haven’t experienced any of this before so keeping them in the loop and treating them as mature enough to deal with these difficult things is key. How much you tell them and how much you shield them is something that you as a parent will have to judge and decide on.
Discuss the Funeral and Rituals in Advance
Among the many thoughts and feelings they’ll be experiencing for the first time, there’ll also be the rituals and routines that come with a death that your child has most likely never experienced before either. When planning the funeral, you’ll want to make the arrangements in a way that pays respect to the person who’s passed and upright grave markers can be used to create a memorial and place of mourning for the family. Be sure to discuss these things with your child and offer explanations where necessary.
Be There to Talk and Comfort Them
Finally, you need to remember the importance and value of simply being there when they need you. Being available to talk whenever they feel the need to talk is perhaps the most important thing you as a parent can do, as well as offering them comfort when they require it.
When your child is mourning the loss of someone close to them, it’s your responsibility as their parent to ease that process and support them through it. You can’t take away their sadness or negative emotions, but you can be there for them and offer support in the ways discussed above.
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