When a family member dies

Help your children develop an emotional vocabulary.

• This is the ability to name different feelings.

I'm angry.

I'm sad.

I'm worried.

• When children can give names to their feelings, those emotions generally feel less confusing or overwhelming.
• Let them know adults experience these same feelings.

When a child is expressing big feelings, they often find it helps when their parent or another trusted adult:

• Calmly witnesses the behaviour.
• Describes what they see the child doing.
• When necessary, suggests safer ways to express grief.

You could say:

"Wow, you’re really hitting that pillow hard."

"I see you’re making the face you make when you’re really angry."

"Let’s think about what we can do to help keep you safe and make your body feel more calm."

"I see you’re spending a lot of time alone in your bedroom these days. You seem to need a lot of sleep since your mom died." 

Explain that all their feelings are important and need care, but certain behaviour is not acceptable. 

• For example, it's okay to feel angry but it's not acceptable to kick your little brother or sister.

Try to identify the feelings and the need behind the behaviour, then find ways to meet those needs. 

• For example, if your child clings to you when you drop them off at school, they might be frightened you'll die too. Try asking:

"I'm wondering if you feel worried when I say goodbye at school."

Brainstorm together how to care for difficult feelings like anger, fear or sadness. Talk about safely expressing their feelings without hurting themselves, another person or a pet, or an object such as a favourite toy. Some children find it helps to:

• Talk with someone they trust.
• Write or draw about what's upsetting them. 
• Cry alone or with someone.
• Look at photos or a memory box of the person they're missing.
• Cuddle something that belonged to the person or a blanket made of their clothing.

Write a My Feeling Very Sad List and My Feeling Very Mad List of things your child can do when they're upset.

• Involve your child in writing the lists.
• Have them sign it.
• Place it somewhere they'll see it often, such as the fridge or their bedroom door.  
• Do one yourself - its a great way to model grief!

It’s difficult to help children figure out other ways to express “big feelings” when they’re in the middle of a meltdown. It’s best to have this conversation when they’re calmer.  In the meantime:

• Stay with your child.
• Know it’s okay not to say anything at all.
• Witness their expression of feelings.
• Make sure they don’t hurt themselves or anyone else.
• When your child is calmer and able to hear you let them know you’re there for them, and their feelings are normal.

It may help to talk with your child’s teachers about creating a list of sad and mad activities for them if they’re having a hard time at school.

Sometimes children benefit from outside help and spending time with peers who are also grieving. This can take the form of:

• Grief support groups,
• Bereavement camps,
• Formal counselling with someone who specializes in children’s grief.

If you seek counselling for yourself, let your children know. This is another way to model healthy grieving.