Grief (see also Death/Dying)

BRIEF SUMMARY

Grief may not feel normal but it is. Everyone will grieve in their own way. When a child grieves, you might not even realize that they’re grieving. Kids process and display complex emotions differently than adults. However, that doesn’t mean the grief is not happening and that a child isn’t affected by their emotions. Children aren’t too young to grieve.

KEY POINTS

No bereaved child or young person will respond to the death of someone close in the same way.
Allow the bereaved child or young person to say how they feel and do not be offended if they are angry with you or do not want to talk.
Give the bereaved child or young person the time to explore their grief and support them as they mourn.

SHARED WISDOM

Question: I am looking for a good resource to use in processing with a student whose father passed away unexpectedly. She is almost 15 years old, but is in our life skills program and functions around a preschool level. She has limited verbal communication.
- Responses:
- I would recommend reaching out to Brooke’s Place. They may have some tips or help to support your student. Here is a link to their website that has some of their resources. https://www.brookesplace.org/index.php/about-brooke-s-place/brooke-s-place-resources
- Contact hospice groups. They have materials for young children to help them understand death.
- Coalition for Support Grieving Students.
- Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children is a simple book for young children. I have used this book on many occasions to explain the cycle of life when a loved one has died. Another book I have recently been using with children is The Invisible String which helps children understand how we are always connected to those we have loved and have died.
- I like Grief is a snowflake by Julia Cook. I’ve had students create snowflakes or continue working on a grief/memory book. Depending on her developmental level. I also you the grief book done by Sesame Street.
Question: Does anyone have any good resources that they use for staff and students when they have lost a student? (from Counselor Talk, November 2018)
- Response: Coalition to Support Grieving Students https://grievingstudents.org/
From Counselor Talk:
- Q: What is a good book recommendation for an adolescent who lost a brother? A: Healing Your Grieving Heart for Teens by Alan Wolfelt.
- A: Healing Your Grieving Heart for Teens: 100 Practical Ideas by Alan Wolfelt has great ideas.
  He also has a great book (includes all age levels) which is good for counselors and also to loan out to parents: Finding the Words: How to Talk with Children and Teens about Death, Suicide, Homicide, Funerals, Cremation, and other End-of-Life Matters. His website is: https://www.centerforloss.com
www.willowgreen.com has excellent materials for adults experiencing grief. (and the author/photographer lives in Fort Wayne!) Counselortalk, March 2018

RESOURCES

Template letter
Advice-on-loss-of-a-student
http://ryansplace.org/
http://www.brookesplace.org/
Grief Curriculum
Brooke’s Place (Indianapolis)
Students Managing Grief from the Center for School, College and Career Resources
The Data Behind Grief from the Center for School, College and Career Resources
Mental Health Resources For Students from the Center for School, College and Career Resources
a Suicide Toolkit for Schools
Coalition to Support Grieving Children
Small Group lessons for Grief/Loss – Middle School
Small Group lessons for Grief/Loss – High School
Talking with Children About Tragic Events
The Dougy Center

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BRIEF SUMMARY

KEY POINTS

SHARED WISDOM

RESOURCES

CONTACT TOPIC MANAGER

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