One of the questions we get most often is how do we talk with children about the death loss that has occurred. This video can be a good resource for you as the parent or guardian of a child that has experienced a death loss.

Many times teens experiencing grief for the first time are trying to figure out how to navigate their feelings after a profound loss in their lives. There are times their grief reactions can be confusing and cause them to make poor decisions. Their anger can be come on very suddenly and they are unable to control their temper. Depression can lead them to make poor choices (suicide, drugs, or alcohol). Peer support groups have proven to an effective way for teens to navigate through their grief. This video show teens finding healthy ways to cope with their loss.

So what happens in our body when we experience a profound loss. The research now shows us that the brain tells our body to continuously produce cortisol (a stress hormone) causing so many overwhelming thought and feelings while we are grieving. This makes our bodies vulnerable to all kinds of physical and emotional reactions. This video show how our brain is affected by grief and ways to cope with the stress of grief.

It is important to understand that all children grieve when someone dies, when their parents separate, when they are abandoned or taken away from their parents or guardians. How they understand and express their grief will depend on their age and the circumstance surrounding their loss. Taking that into consideration here are some important things to know in order to help children navigate healing from their loss.

1. Explain the death or divorce in simple terms, being honest when explaining what has happened.

2. Children will have many questions concerning their loss and may ask the same questions over and over. Continue to answer their repetitive questions, they need to hear the answers over and over.

3. It is important for children ages 5 and up to attend the funeral or memorial services. They need meaningful ways to say "goodbye".

4. Keep your expectations for their school grades realistic, realize that their grief can affect their ability to concentrate on school work.

5. Find meaningful ways for them to remember and memorialize their loved one who had died.

6. Some children benefit from one on one counseling and play therapy. If you see your child struggling daily with their loss, professional help may be a good option for them.

7. It has been proven that grief support groups for children, teens and adults is a highly effective in helping them cope with their loss. Try to find a support group in your area or online.