Children and Grief

Banner Hospice offers a children's bereavement camp several times per year.

Call (480) 657-1167 for more information.

Expressing grief
Children understand death differently depending on the age of the child. Symptoms can include emotional, behavioral, physical, psychological, social, and spirituals signs of grief or loss.

The language of grief
Children often speak a language of behaviors such as acting out or withdrawing from family and friends. Anger is one of the most common expressions of grief by both adult and children.

Spend time with each other
Has your child withdrawn? Make an effort to spend time with them. Talk to them. Going for a walk or drive together will provide an opportunity to spend some private time together.

The funeral
Funerals can be emotionally painful. Include children in the planning of a service. Answer questions and explain details as much as possible before the services.

Children need to feel safe
Keep as much of a daily routine as possible. Communicate with school personnel so they know what has happened. It is not uncommon for children to try to protect their parents from any more tears or pain. To that end, they will keep their thoughts, questions, and fears to themselves.

Children need to remember
Talk about memories. Embrace them freely. Ask the children about some of their memories.