Grieving children:

• Emotional Expression: Children and teenagers may struggle to verbally express their feelings. Encouraging them to draw or paint memories, write poetry or find music they relate to are great avenues for encouraging them to talk.

• Connection and Comfort: Long hugs, frequent conversations and including children in the service helps them develop a comfort level with processing grief. Don’t hide your own sadness from your kids and always remind them that death and sadness are natural parts of life.

• Behavioral Signs: Trouble sleeping, being overly needy, testing limits and angry outbursts are often grief responses in children and teens.