“Children grieve too. So, what can you do?”
Bereaved Children’s Awareness Week 2024 is about remembering that Children Grieve Too and there are things we can do to help them find their way through.
Most children can manage and learn to live with their grief with the appropriate support from their family and key adults in their lives. However, this is based on the premise that the adults surrounding the child have accurate and up-to-date information on the impact of childhood bereavement. This campaign aims to get information about childhood bereavement out to the families, communities and services that need it. You can help us to achieve this. Read our top five tips below or share them with the people in your life who may need them right now.
Top Five Tips for Supporting Bereaved Children and Young People
- Encourage Open Communication
Let children know it’s okay to talk about their feelings and ask questions. Listen without judgment, and use clear, age-appropriate language to explain what has happened. Avoid euphemisms like “gone to sleep,” which can confuse or frighten them. - Validate Their Feelings
Acknowledge that their emotions, which include amongst others, sadness, anger, guilt, or even relief, are normal and okay. Reassure them that grief looks different for everyone and that whatever they’re feeling is valid. - Maintain Routines and Stability
Keeping consistent routines provides a sense of security during a chaotic time. Simple structures, like regular mealtimes and bedtime rituals, help children feel grounded and safe. - Provide Creative Outlets for Expression
Some children may struggle to articulate their feelings in words. Activities like drawing, journaling, or playing can give them a safe way to express and process their emotions. - Be Patient and Reassuring
Grief doesn’t follow a timeline, and children may revisit their loss at different stages of development. Stay patient, check in regularly, and remind them they are not alone.
By offering understanding, compassion, and consistency, we can help bereaved children navigate their grief journey.
Sign up for our free webinars, learn about children and young people’s grief, explore of storybook recommendations, watch our videos, and download our free resources on the ICBN website below.
If you missed our webinars, you can watch some of them below or head over to our Vimeo Channel.
About Bereaved Children’s Awareness Week 2024
Bereaved Children’s Awareness Week takes place from November 18 – 22, and the ICBN are coordinating a series of events and initiatives that include professional webinars and online support sessions for parents and carers, as well as local and regional events organised by ICBN members and friends.
About The Irish Childhood Bereavement Network (ICBN)
The Irish Childhood Bereavement Network, hosted by Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF), works with its members to advocate for bereaved children and young people. The ICBN aims to ensure that all children and young people, together with the adults in their lives, have access to high-quality local and national information, guidance, and support to navigate the impact of death on their lives. The ICBN is jointly funded by the Child & Family Agency (Tusla) and Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF).
About Irish Hospice Foundation
Irish Hospice Foundation works towards the best end-of-life and bereavement care and support for all. Through education and services, such as Nurses for Night Care and the Bereavement Support Line, Irish Hospice Foundation strives to ensure that every person can die and grieve well, whatever their age and wherever they are.
