A good funeral service in Bellingham, WA can help families in coping with grief however, children are the most vulnerable in terms of emotional distress. Most children know that people die, even if they don’t fully comprehend it. Some of your child’s pals may have experienced the loss of a loved one, and death is a popular subject in cartoons and on television. As a parent or adult below are the things that you can do for the child to cope with grief.
1. If a youngster is grieving, it is important to encourage him or her to talk about it
A child’s reaction to death might range from tears one minute to laughter the next. Children react differently than adults, and play might be a defensive strategy to protect a youngster from being overwhelmed, so his mood swings are not evidence that he is no longer sad or mourning. It is also common to blame oneself, the deceased, or a third party for one’s own feelings of sadness, guilt, anxiety, or anger. This may cause youngsters to regress to earlier stages of development, such as wetting the bed or reverting to baby language.
Children benefit from learning it’s healthy to share their feelings. You may start a dialogue with your kid about death by reading one of the many excellent children’s books available on the subject. Many kids have trouble finding the right words to describe how they feel; in these cases, activities like painting, scrapbooking, looking at old photos, and sharing tales may be very beneficial.
2. Speak to the point
Use no euphemisms at all whiles talking about dying. If a child hears that a family member “went to sleep,” it may strike fear in their hearts. Euphemisms not only make your kid fearful of night, but they also prevent him from learning useful coping mechanisms.
3. Attending the funeral
The choice of whether you and your kid should go to the funeral is totally up to you. Some youngsters aren’t mature enough to handle the emotional intensity of a funeral, even though it might be useful for offering closure. If a youngster doesn’t want to go to a funeral, don’t make them. Be careful to brief your youngster about the potential dangers he may encounter if he decides to attend. The funeral is a really sad event; therefore, some individuals may shed a tear or two, you should warn them. The same goes for a coffin if one is to be used.
4. Consider their age when talking to them
It is hard to tell how a toddler will respond to death, or even whether he can understand the notion. Don’t make things too easy for others by giving out too much information. Rather, try to respond to his inquiries. Young children may mistakenly believe that their departed loved one will return if they are good and eat their veggies and do their tasks.
School-aged kids have a firm grasp on the reality of death, but they may still have plenty of questions. You should provide precise and honest responses. It’s alright if you can’t answer everything; being accessible to your kid is what counts.
We hope that we were able to help you with the information we provided, you can find a good funeral service Bellingham, WA that also offers professional advice to cope with grief.