Want to Help a Child Who Is Grieving? Be Honest!

Want to Help a Child Who Is Grieving? Be Honest!

How do you help a child navigate the complex emotions of grief? In this episode of 'Life Unscripted', host Janice Arnoldi sits down with children's grief therapist Angel Graham to tackle this challenging topic. With November being National Grief Awareness Month and Children's Grief Awareness Day on the 18th, the timing couldn't be more relevant. Angel shares that children, even infants, grieve differently from adults and often don't understand euphemisms like 'loss'.

Instead, she emphasizes the need for honesty, using clear terms like 'died' to help children grasp the permanence of death. The conversation dives into practical advice, such as involving children in funeral services and openly discussing death to destigmatize grief. Angel also touches on the added layers of anxiety and stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left many children grieving in silence.

She offers tools to help kids process their emotions, reminding us that grief encompasses a range of feelings, including moments of joy. Janice and Angel's discussion is both heartfelt and informative, providing valuable insights for anyone looking to support a grieving child. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or friend, this episode offers guidance on fostering honest conversations about death and helping children navigate their grief.