Young Children and Response to Death

Have you ever seen a child attend a funeral or memorial service? Do you know a child who has suffered the loss of a beloved friend or family member? Children do not grieve in the same way that adults mourn the passing of someone they care about. Talking about young children and death is important because life offers no guarantees. Can you imagine what goes through a young child’s mind when they grieve? If you want to know more about young children and death, then listen to this episode of Forever in their Hearts, where host Erik Reynolds talks with Valerie Martell, Director of Operations for Martin Brothers Funeral Services about young children and how they grieve. As with adults, no two children will grieve in the same way. This interview is a chance to learn resources and methods to help a child experience grief in a healthy manner. Do Young Children Really Grieve? The episode begins with Valerie pointing out that although the outward signs may differ, a child’s grief is every bit as real as an adult who is in mourning. Then Valerie segues into an explanation about how children learn and how parents can use this knowledge to help their child make healthy progress through the various stages of grief. During the podcast, Valerie draws on her experiences from working in the funeral home to better illustrate the topic of young children and death. Preparing a Child for an Impending Loss Next Valerie discusses how to explain a loved one’s impending death to a child. During the podcast she addresses the following questions: - How much should I tell my child about a loved one’s health?- What can I tell my child so they know this is not their fault?- Is it necessary to answer questions a child asks repeatedly? Now ask yourself these two things: Do I want to know more about young children and death? Could I benefit from advice about how to talk to a grieving child? If you answered “Yes” to either or both of these questions, then be sure to share your comments below. Signs of Healthy Grief in Young Children Then Valerie shares signs to look for to gauge a child’s well-being during their time of mourning. When it comes to young children and death, they go through the stages of grief differently than adults. It’s important that adults to know what to look for in case a child’s actions are a cry for help. Valerie points out that parents know their child the best. She also shares one thing parents can do to gauge if their grieving child is okay. The episode wraps up with Valerie sharing her final thoughts for people who interact with young children who may be grieving a loss. Could You Use Advice about Young Children and Death? Is there a child in your life who has questions about death? Do you want to know more about how children grieve? Listen to the entire podcast now and then leave your questions, concerns, and personal experiences in the comments where we can discuss them together. Martin Brothers Funeral Services has more than 100 years of experience in providing thoughtful, dedicated services to families dealing with loss. If you are ready to take care of funeral pre-arrangements, have additional questions about their services, or are dealing with a loss, please contact them at their Vancouver office. Martin Brothers Funeral Services Vancouver: Funeral Services Centre3398 Dunbar StreetVancouver, BC Canada V6S 2C1 Telephone Number: 778.330.7799Toll Free Number: 1.800.382.2901Fax Number: 778.330.7633 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MartinBrothersFuneralChapelsBcLtdTwitter: https://twitter.com/martinbrothers1