BY KATE FAVARO
Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley

POTSDAM – With the back-to-school season coming up (how did summer go so fast?!) it feels like the right time to talk about children who are grieving. Kids of all ages can feel grief, and any adult can help support them. There are just a few important things to keep in mind when you’re helping a child adjust to life without the person or pet they loved.

Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley suggests the following:

• Use clear words.

It’s best to use simple, honest words, even the ones that feel hard to say: death, dying, and dead. For example, if you say, “Uncle Richard passed away,” a child may wonder what that means and when he’s coming back from “away.” If you say, “Uncle Richard died,” it may sound harsh to adults, but kids understand it better. When they ask what “died” means, you can explain: it means the body stops working so the person can’t run, play, talk, or eat anymore. Using the same clear words each time helps the child feel less confused or scared.

• Remember, kids grieve in different ways.

Some kids may seem not to care at first. You can tell them someone died, and they might go right back to playing like nothing happened. But weeks later, it could be all they want to talk about. Other kids may cry and feel a lot of emotions right away but then seem fine a month later. Both reactions are normal. Grief comes and goes, and it’s different for everyone. Give them time and let them know that whatever they’re feeling is okay.

Talking about death with kids can feel tough, but avoiding the subject makes it harder for them in the long run. If we can have these conversations early, using simple, honest words, we help kids learn to handle grief in healthy ways. Over time, this creates schools and communities filled with kids who can support each other as they grow. To learn more about supporting grieving children contact Hospice at 315-265-3105.

Hospice is able to bring you this education through the support of our Trailblazer and Horizon Keeper Business Partners: Community Bank, N.A., TJ Toyota of Potsdam, Donaldson-Seymour Funeral Homes, NuMed for Children, and SeaComm.

Kate Favaro is Grief Services Coordinator for Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley.

Help St. Lawrence County Stay Connected!

We’re glad you read this article reported by the staff of NorthCountryNow.com.

If you haven’t done so already, please consider subscribing to ensure you have full access to all the news and info about St. Lawrence County.

Your subscriptions make it possible for us to provide trustworthy local news, promote our many community events, and encourage community dialogue.

Please click here to subscribe today!