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Children & Bereavement

Explaining the loss of a loved one to a child can be one of the hardest parts following a death. Often the person left to explain the loss is a parent or grandparent, who is already in a state of grief.

It is a very confusing time for all the death has affected: the mode of death (sometimes sudden and unexpected) or the family situation (perhaps their parents are divorced) can bring even more grief into a family trying to cope with their loss.

Whilst we try to help a family through this very difficult time, with so many different situations and personalities it is sometimes inappropriate for us to try and help with more complicated grief, and particularly with children who are impressionable and need to be able to come to terms with their loss in their own time and in their own way.

We have therefore included on this page information and internet links to some of the organisations available to give help in precise situations especially for children and those who are helping children. Your GP can also recommend local groups and counsellors and can make referrals to groups when a referral is needed.

We also have a small selection of books, listed below, which we can lend you for several age groups from very young children to teenagers.

BOOKS for CHILDREN and TEENAGERS

I Miss You: a First Look at Death
Waterbugs and Dragonflies
Badger’s Parting Gifts
A Child’s Grief: Supporting a Child When Someone in Their Family Has Died
Straight Talk about Death for Teenagers: How to Cope with Losing Someone You Love

LINKS to USEFUL WEBSITES

Winston’s Wish — A charity for bereaved children, which helps young people re-adjust to life after the death of a parent or sibling

Cruse Bereavement Care — Cruse Bereavement Care exists to promote the wellbeing of bereaved people and to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss. Services are free to bereaved people. The charity provides support and offers information, advice, education and training services.

The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is an organisation of bereaved parents and their families offering understanding, support and encouragement to others after the death of a child or children. We also offer support, advice and information to other relatives, friends and professionals who are helping the family.

The Child Bereavement Charity (CBC) provides specialised support, information and training to all those affected when a baby or child dies, or when a child is bereaved.

Childhood Bereavement Network — The Childhood Bereavement Network (CBN) is a national, multi-professional federation of organisations and individuals working with bereaved children and young people.

Young Minds — YoungMinds is the national charity committed to improving the mental health of all children and young people.

National Children’s Bureau — NCB is a charitable organisation that acts as an umbrella body for organisations working with children and young people in England & Northern Ireland.