Grief in Children

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Grief in Children

• By Glenda K. Lane
• Phillip N. Lambert Jr.

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Objective

• To cover the effects of grief as it concerns
  children, especially individuals who have
  experienced the loss of one or both parents. We
  will also look at the many resources and
  techniques for coping with grief and how Social
  Workers are a vital part of the process.

Imagery Intro
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What is Grieving?

• Grieving is the process of emotional and life
  adjustment you go through after a loss.
• Grieving after a loved one's death is also known
  as bereavement.
• Grieving is a personal experience.

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Symptoms of Grief

• Be alert for children exhibiting these reactions
• Aggressive behavior
• Withdrawal, or very passive behavior
• Changes in eating or sleeping patterns
• Prolonged periods of weeping
• Changes in school grades
• Symptoms associated with the illness or injury of
  the deceased
• Repeated expressions of guilt or fear
• You may want to seek help if these reactions are
  persistent and ongoing.

Clip from Hide and Seek
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Developmental Stages of Grief

• The way a child understands death varies
  according to their age and developmental level.
• BIRTH TO THREE YEARS
• THREE TO FIVE YEARS
• SIX TO NINE YEARS
• NINE TO TWELVE YEARS
• ADOLESCENCE

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Developmental Stages cont

• BIRTH TO THREE YEARS Even infants grieve.
• "Children feel, even if they do not
  understand.Understanding comes later the
  feelings need a hug" Doug Manning
• THREE TO FIVE YEARS Children at this age don't
  accept death as a permanent process.
• SIX TO NINE YEARS Children begin to grasp the
  concept of death and understand that the person
  will never come back.
• NINE TO TWELVE YEARS Children begin to
  understand that death is an inevitable part of
  living and that death may come earlier than
  expected.
• ADOLESCENCE Most teenagers have an adult level
  of understanding about death.

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Stages of Grieving

• I. Stage One Shock, denial, isolation
• II. Stage Two Anger
• III. Stage Three Bargaining
• IV. Stage Four Depression
• V. Stage Five Acceptance

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Treatment Methods for Grieving

• Three common Treatment Methods
• Home Treatment
• Medications
• Counseling

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Home Treatment

• Get enough rest and sleep. During sleep, your
  mind makes sense of what is happening in your
  life. Not getting enough rest and sleep can lead
  to physical illness and exhaustion. Try to
  incorporate a routine nap into the childs
  schedule.
• Exercise. If nothing else, take a walk with the
  child. This and other forms of exercise, such as
  swimming can help release some of their pent-up
  emotions.
• Maintain the childs normal activities. Staying
  involved in activities that include church,
  dance, sports, or clubs, may help them as they
  grieve.
• Give the child a journal.

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Home Treatment Cont.

• Some guided questions to help with their
  journaling are
• My favorite memory of my mom/dad is ...
• During the holidays we...
• I had a _____ for a pet. His name was ___. He
  looked like ___. We used to ___.
• The meal I loved the most at home was...
• My best friend is ...
• I feel ____ today.
• I wish I could...
• If I could grow up to be anything in the world it
  would be a...
• My favorite song/TV show is...
• We used to _____ as a family every weekend.
• My mom/dad's laughter sounds like...
• I miss...
• I want...
• School is...
• I am a ____ person.

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Medications

• Grief itself is a natural response that doesn't
  require medical treatment. Sometimes, however,
  people need help getting through the grieving
  process, especially when these people are
  children!
• Sedative medication
• If the child suffers for more than a few days of
  SEVERE agitation, talk to your health
  professional about whether a short-term
  prescription sedative medication can help them.
  Common Medications used to aide in grief relief
  are
• Celexa
• Paxil
• Prozac
• Zoloft

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Counseling

• You can talk to a grief counselor/Social Worker,
  attend a bereavement support group, or both.
• According to an article from The Child and
  Adolescence Social Work Journal, group therapy
  is one of the best methods to help children cope
  with the death of a parent.