{"id":2110,"date":"2013-12-07T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-12-07T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.osfhealthcare.org\/supportive-care\/?p=931"},"modified":"2022-02-11T10:06:17","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T16:06:17","slug":"helping-children-grieve-during-the-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/helping-children-grieve-during-the-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping Children Grieve During the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"

Contributed By:
\nLaura Sollenberger, Pediatric Supportive Care Counseling Supervisor – OSF Saint Francis<\/em><\/p>\n

Adults play an important role in helping children grieve, especially over the holidays when new emotions and memories can hit with full force. Children often have trouble expressing their emotions and they may not be open about their own grief.<\/p>\n

The following are tips that a parent or another adult can use to help grieving children through the holidays.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Talk About the Child\u2019s Grief<\/strong>
    \nTalk with them about their loved one. Be specific with good memories. Let children share their feelings and stories. Keep the communication lines open by spending one-on-one time with a child who is grieving.<\/li>\n
  2. Be Tolerant of the Child\u2019s Physical and Psychological Limits<\/strong>
    \nDealing with feelings of loss may lead to fatigue. Respect the body\u2019s cue that it is time to slow down a bit and rest.<\/li>\n
  3. Eliminate Unnecessary Stress<\/strong>
    \nDo not overextend the child. Release that \u201ckeeping busy\u201d will not distract the child from the grief and may actually increase stress.<\/li>\n
  4. Be With Supportive, Comforting People<\/strong>
    \nIdentify those friends and relatives who understand that the holiday season can be stressful. Find those people who encourage the child to be themselves and accept the child\u2019s feelings\u2014both happy and sad.<\/li>\n
  5. Plan Ahead for Family Gatherings<\/strong>
    \nDecide which family traditions you want to continue and which new ones you would like to begin. Structure your holiday time. Leave room to change plans if you deem it appropriate.<\/li>\n
  6. Embrace Your Treasure of Memories<\/strong>
    \nMemories are one the best legacies that exist after the death of someone loved. Encourage your child to share memories with your family and friends.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Contributed By: Laura Sollenberger, Pediatric Supportive Care Counseling Supervisor – OSF Saint Francis Adults play an important role in helping children grieve, especially over the holidays when new emotions and memories can hit with full force. Children often have trouble expressing their emotions and they may not be open about their own grief. The following […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[116,289],"tags":[526,324,371],"coauthors":[710],"class_list":["post-2110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pediatrics","category-palliative-care","tag-grief-and-bereavement","tag-holidays","tag-pediatrics"],"yoast_head":"\nHelping Children Grieve During the Holidays<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Holidays are tough for those who grieve, especially young kids. 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