Understanding and Supporting a Child or Teen Coping with a Death

by Jane Bradley Cameron

Essential reading for all who must meet the challenge of entering a child’s world at a difficult time. This book is the natural outgrowth of our curriculum, which was created and developed to support our Tree House and School Outreach programs.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Things We Have Learned about Grief
  3. Entering the World of a Grieving Child or Teen
  4. Creating a Supportive Environment

Excerpts

“For many adults the prospect of understanding and supporting a child or teen who is grieving can feel confusing, overwhelming and more”

“…just because children are not able or willing to ask or answer questions doesn’t mean they don’t have a whole lot going on inside their minds and bodies.”

“It is especially difficult for parents and caregivers to resist the desire to take away a child’s pain and to try to ‘make it all better again’. It helps to remember that allowing for emotional honesty and a changed reality can ignite a child’s self-confidence as well as an innate drive to heal and live in hope again.”

“Even though it is impossible to fully comprehend someone else’s experience, your efforts to understand can help a grieving child or teen feel respected, loved, and more confident.”

“Grieving children don’t care what you know until they know you care.”