To mark Children’s Grief Awareness Week, which takes place from 18-24 November 2024, we are pleased to share some tips about supporting bereaved children from our friends at the peer support network WAY Widowed and Young…
Keeping lines of communication open is so important. My children were 2 and 8 when their dad died, so I had to manage their grief at different ages and stages over the years.
Theresa, WAY Member
Adapt to your child’s needs at every stage. Each age requires unique strategies and understanding, so being flexible and responsive to their development can make a huge difference.
Paolo, WAY Member
We need to be led by our children on how they grieve and what they need.
Cath, WAY Member
For supporting children, I would say ‘don’t be too hard on yourself.’ It can be so difficult to do just about anything and you end up feeling like you can’t do any of it, or you have moments where you shout at them over something completely meaningless.
It can be easy to be harsh on yourself and this can make you feel even worse than you do already. As long as you keep true to what you feel in your heart for how you are bringing them up and are always there for them when they need to talk, and are honest with them about how you feel, and you apologise for the bad times and relish with them the good times, things will only get stronger between you and them.
Gary, WAY Member
I don’t want to miss that moment when one of my boys feels something new in their grief. I want to give opportunities for them to express themselves and I want to be there to give them my support. It isn’t easy but these regular moments, perhaps only once a month, mean the world to me and I believe they do too for my boys, now and for their future.
I have a list of picture books I will read and a related activity that I will take time to do once a month with my boys for our ongoing relationship with their daddy.
Emma, WAY Member
After speaking with a peer who had lost their parent as a child, it seemed important for children to meet with others who have lost a parent. My daughter found peer support when she started university and found a grief group, which has really helped her.
WAY Member
If people are finding it challenging to find support for their children, it’s worth exploring options through work as some employers offer private counselling or mental health care schemes, which can also extend to dependent children.
WAY Member
About WAY
The WAY Widowed and Young community offers a safe space to talk to other people (both with and without children) who understand how it feels to be widowed at a young age.
Click here to see the latest post on WAY from Winston’s Wish.
Find out how WAY can support you at www.widowedandyoung.org.uk
Children’s Grief Awareness Week
This year, Children’s Grief Awareness Week will focus on Building Hope to give children and young people the tools and strategies to cope after the death of someone important to them.
Find out more about Children’s Grief Awareness Week below.
Whilst we can’t take away a young person’s loss, we can help you to help them thrive again. From access to a bereavement support worker to articles, activities and grief talks – we can help you support the children and young people in your life.