Helping Children With The Death of a Parent

Losing a parent is never easy, regardless of your age. However, the experience can be particularly traumatic for young children. Parents are their safety net and they provide stability. Each parent is a vital part of their child’s world so losing one can make them feel insecure. At Gallagher Funeral Home, we have seen families struggle to deal with grieving children. Here are some tips that can help:

1. Convey the News Clearly

It can be difficult to break the news to a child, but it must be done. Don’t leave any room for confusion or misunderstanding. Many adults try to soften the blow by using vague terms or phrases. That can cause distress and confusion in a time when children need stability more than anything.

2. Maintain Routines

Children have a self-centered outlook and will worry about how the loss of a parent impacts their life. It is important to establish some stability early on by maintaining routines. If the parent was in-charge of dropping the child off to school, make sure there’s someone who can take up that task and continue the routine.

3. Let Them Release Their Emotions

Children need an outlet to release their emotions. Let them cry, rage, scream, or become quiet. Asking them to behave will only add to their emotional stress and cause long-term problems.

4. From a Safety Net Around the Child

When a child loses a parent, they temporarily lose both parents. Spouses are in deep mourning as well and need some time to find their emotional stability. Family members can step in and provide the child with some stability. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc, can jump in to offer practical and emotional support.

If you need help on funeral-related matters or want to know more about our services here at Gallagher Funeral Home, contact us or give us a call at 318-640-1375 today.