Chapter 2: Children’s grief
Reactions by age and stage
I’m not very religious or spiritual, so I didn’t know what to tell my daughter about what happens after death. A friend said that I could still talk about heaven, say that my son was watching over us and that we could talk to him. That really seemed to help my daughter.
The following information may help you in understanding and supporting your own or other children. Click each tab on the left to reveal information for each age group.
May go back to earlier behaviours.
Children ages 4 to 6 may worry that something bad could happen to you or to them.
Many ask for more detailed explanations and want to understand what happened, while others may carry on as though nothing has happened.
Children ages 7 to 12 years may have more complex reactions, depending on their own feelings about a new sibling, and can have their own very real sense of loss of identity as an older sibling.
Teenagers can also experience a variety of feelings that include confusion, compassion, sadness, and grief.
Teenagers can also experience a variety of feelings that include confusion, compassion, sadness, and grief.
