Living with Grief

What does a child think and feel when a loved one dies? What does death mean to a child? Are children capable of grieving? Children normally express their grief through their behaviours, emotions, thoughts and physical reactions. They may cry, feel angry, think that the cause of death was due to a naughty deed and, perhaps, regress to earlier behaviours. It is a misconception that children heal quickly from a loss. But what can we do to heal the loss and help the child move on? What should we not say or do? When does a child’s grief become serious? Do children ever become depressed?