Tag Archive: parents

How to Talk to Children about Pet Loss

By Tracy Hart, LCMHC For many children, their first experience with mortality is the death of a pet. Families are often unsure about the correct way to handle this situation...

How to Talk to Children and Teens about Suicide Loss

It can feel daunting to explain suicide to a child, particularly if you are already coping with confusion and shock. The following are tips about how to discuss this type...

When a Death Changes Everything: Supporting Children Through “Secondary Loss”

For kids and teens, grieving the loss of a loved one can sometimes be further complicated by related changes. The death of a parent or guardian might result in the...

Why Grieving Kids Get “Clingy”

Separation anxiety can be a common response to a significant loss for preschool or elementary-age children. You may find that your child has difficulty letting you out of their sight...

The Importance of Peer Support for Grieving Teens

The middle school and high school years are a unique time in life. Teenagers are outgrowing childhood but have not yet fully developed in a social, cognitive or emotional capacity....

Do Very Young Children Feel Grief?

There is a commonly held belief that young children are “too young to grieve” when a loved one dies. However, we now know that preschool-age children, toddlers and even infants...

How Play Therapy Helps Grieving Children

As adults, we often picture counseling or therapy as someone sitting in a room talking to a professional about their problems. However, counseling with children often requires a different approach...

How to Communicate with your Grieving Teen

  Adolescence can be an exciting time of self-discovery and identity development. However, as adolescents seek more independence, families may find this time filled with disagreements and periods of irritability...

Holiday Travel and Serious Illness

When a loved one is sick, figuring out how to coordinate holiday gatherings can be a real challenge, particularly if you have family that lives far away. Before deciding what...

Should My Child Attend the Funeral?

Kids Path counselors are often asked, “Is it a good idea for my child to attend our loved one’s funeral or memorial service?” Our response to this question varies because...