Friday, January 8, 2016
When a Child Grieves, We All Should Help (New York Life Foundation)
Knowing how to help a friend or loved one who is in the throes of grief doesn't always come naturally. In fact, the situation leaves many wondering what to say and how to say it, often causing us to say "nothing at all." And if it's difficult knowing what to say to a grieving adult, the challenge can be magnified tenfold when that person is a child.
A staggering 1 in 7 people lose a parent or sibling by the time they are 20-years-old, according to a survey conducted by the New York Life Foundation in conjunction with Comfort Zone Camp (which serves bereaved children across the country). As a society, it's time to de-mystify the grieving process. All of us--neighbors, family, friends, teachers--will some day be in a position to support a child during what will likely be the most traumatic period of their lifetime.
When it comes to the grieving experience, children are not just miniature adults. Their situations are different and their emotions are, too. A 2012 survey of 531 grieving children conducted by the New York Life Foundation, in conjunction with the National Alliance for Grieving Children, reveals some of the children's thoughts and emotions. . .