The needs of a grieving child

The following are the needs of a grieving child. They will move through these needs and then revisit them. Children can rapidly move from intense emotions to being ready to play again. Also, they can go from being playful and joyful to remembering their loss, causing them to feel pain in an unexpected place or time.

- A grieving child needs to feel safe in their world.

- They need to understand the death, how it happened and why.

- They need to be allowed to mourn the death.

- A grieving child needs the opportunity to stay connected to the dead family member in some way.

- They need to understand that it is ok for them to resume their childhood again.