6min read
Supporting your child when someone dies
When you have lost someone through death, a partner, child, family member or friend, it may seem overwhelming to offer support to your child. The loss experienced will have changed everything and each family member will be trying to make sense of what has happened in their own way. Children and young people may need some help with this:
- Try to talk to your children honestly and explain what has happened in a way that they can understand. They need information and reassurance.
- Try to talk to the children about the funeral. Including them and giving them choices will help them to remember and say goodbye.
- Talk about the person who has died - include your children in remembering.
- How children grieve will depend on their age and their understanding of events.
- Your children’s grief may be shown in behaviour and they may be distraught one minute and playing happily the next.
- Inform the school about the child’s loss.
- Trust your instincts as a parent and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
- It’s OK for you and your children to feel sad, angry, confused, empty, guilty, anxious and many other emotions – and it is OK if you don’t.
Further help
Childhood Bereavement Network - can signpost to local and national support services
Winston’s Wish - for grieving children and their families
Child Bereavement Trust Information for bereaved families
After the death of a child:
Child Death Helpline For anyone affected by the death of a child
The Compassionate Friends Support for parents and families when a child has died
Choosing, starting and moving school
-
-
Moving to secondary school - Supporting your child through the change to secondary school
It may seem like yesterday that your child started primary school, but now secondary is looming. You may worry about choosing the right school, how you can help your child prepare and how to help them get the most out of secondary
-
Starting primary school
Starting primary school is daunting – both for children and their families. It marks a big change in family life, especially if it’s the eldest or youngest child who is going.
-
-