Janice Arnoldi
Janice Arnoldi
How to Help to Your Child Grieve When Their Pet Dies
How to Help to Your Child Grieve When Their Pet Dies
How to Help to Your Child Grieve When Their Pet Dies
Monday 25th September 2023
Learn how to support your child through pet loss with Dr. Joshua Russell's insights on children's grief and honest conversations about death.
24 minutes
Supportive
Empowering
Informative
Inspiring
Thought-provoking
About this podcast
Author:
Janice Arnoldi
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Body & Mind
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Sexual Stigmas & Myths
Parenting & Children
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Episodes:
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Get the buttons here!Helping Kids Handle Pet Loss: Honest Conversations and Support
Episode Overview
- Children experience grief differently from adults due to their understanding of death and existential questions.
- Honest conversations and involving children in decision-making can help them process grief.
- Age-appropriate discussions about death and pets' lifetimes play a crucial role in children's grief.
- Parents' own grieving process and emotional expressions impact children's understanding of loss.
- Supporting children through pet loss empowers them to experience and learn about the fullness of life, including death.
I think children are a lot more emotionally capable than we give them credit for. Being afraid to talk about something that's difficult may just be a projection and not really giving your child the credit that they're due for, or even the opportunity to learn about and experience the fullness of life, which includes death.
How do you help a child cope with the loss of a beloved pet? This episode of 'Life Unscripted' dives into that heart-wrenching question with Dr. Joshua Russell, an expert in children's relationships with animals. Losing a pet is tough for anyone, but kids experience this kind of grief differently than adults. While grown-ups might understand and expect the sadness, children often feel confused and overwhelmed. Dr.
Russell shares his research on how kids of various ages process the death of their pets, offering parents valuable advice on navigating this delicate topic. He stresses the importance of honest conversations—no more 'gone to sleep' or 'gone away' euphemisms that can leave children bewildered and waiting for their pet to come back. Instead, Dr. Russell advocates for age-appropriate, straightforward discussions about death.
He believes involving children in decisions about their pets can help them better understand and cope with their feelings. The episode also highlights how a parent's way of grieving can impact a child's perception of loss. By openly sharing emotions and supporting their children through these tough times, parents can help build resilience and a deeper understanding of life's inevitable ups and downs.
Tune in to gain practical tips and compassionate guidance on helping your child navigate the loss of a cherished pet.