Children experiencing grief & Loss

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This interactive Power Point has been created to help you, as a professional, become aware of how children grieve. Children experiencing grief & Loss. When you see this star, click the mouse or press the space bar to move to the next slide. Tammy Hatt, Jon Eaton, Naomi Caban. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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  • CHILDREN EXPERIENCING GRIEF & LOSSTammy Hatt, Jon Eaton, Naomi CabanThis interactive Power Point has been created to help you, as a professional, become aware of how children grieve.When you see this star, click the mouse or press the space bar to move to the next slide

  • Bereavement services cannot make children feel not sad, but they can help them understand and acknowledge their loss.

    Barbara Monroe, director of St Christopher's Candle Project in London

  • Did You Know?

  • Did You Know?

  • Definitions

  • Grief Cyclethe conscious or unconscious refusal to accept the facts and reality of deathThey become angry with themselves and the deceased for not having controlBargaining is a vain expression of hope that the death is reversibleWhen a child realizes there is nothing that can be done to bring a parent back, they are overwhelmed with sadness and griefThe person is ready and actively involved in moving on to the next phase of their lives

  • Implications of Attachment Theory

  • Impact on Development Children experience negative physical and emotional repercussions in response to bereavement. Grief and trauma may be overwhelming at their limited stage of development.FearfulnessSicknessIrritabilityOverwhelming GuiltAggressiveness Regression (such asAngerbed wetting, thumbRagesucking, fetal Withdrawalpositioning)Depression NightmaresSleep DisturbanceAnxietyHeadaches

  • Developmental Stages

  • Research

  • When Families Grieve In this primetime special, Sesame Workshop presents personal stories about coping with the death of a parent. Katie Couric joins Elmo and his furry friends to model communication between adults and children. Theyll also offer thoughtful suggestions and strategies that help the whole family.Click on the picture for a link to this video

  • Helping children cope with bereavement at the different developmental stagesSource: Kirwin & Hamrin (2005)

    InfancyToddlers6-9yrs10-12yrsTeensTry to get routine scheduleBe honest. Use age appropriate language to inform child person diedAsk child what they already understand. Children are curiousBe honest. Give child details if needed or wantedBe honestKeep child in own homeUse words like dead and diedWork from their questionsAnswer questionsTalk about the deathConsistent caregiver for childAnswer QuestionsUse words like dead and diedExplain feelingsEncourage the teen to talk to other adults if it is hard to talk with their parentExtra cuddlingExplain death and what feeling child may haveExplain feelings and that other children feel the sameProvide a journalEncourage parent to share their feelingsTalk to baby as you hold themLet them know it is okay to cryLet child know they did not cause the deathOffer love understanding and supportEncourage parent to hug their teenLet child know they were not the cause of deathTalk about fearsInvolve the child in the planning of the funeral/memorial as possibleTell teen how much you appreciate themIf possible involve in the funeral planningIf possible involve in the funeral planningEncourage the parent to cry and to tell the teen it is all right to cryPrepare the childUnderstand the child needs to playGive teen some private time

  • Myths about BereavementChildren do not grieve Young children may be unable to verbalize or may hide feelings they may speak through their behavior and playChildren experience few losses They experience loss routinely at school, with friends, special pet, and friendsAdults want to protect children Adults may not have the energy or necessary knowledge to help childrenChildren recover quickly from grief Childs grief is intertwined with their developmental process.There are some predictable or orderly stages that a child proceeds through grief No two people are alike and neither are any two children. Everyone grieves in their own way.Children who experience bereavement will grow to up to become maladjusted adults Children who receive compassionate care and early interventions can heal and grow from the bereavement experience.Children should not attend funerals Funerals provide the structure for people of all ages to comfort each other, to mourn openly, and to honor the person who died.Source: Kirwin & Hamrin (2005)

  • Myths about BereavementMisconceptions exist about how effectively developmentally disabled children articulate their perceptions and feelings about traumatic experiences, death, and the subsequent impact of the events that follow. Their experience and expression of grief may differ for this population. Their reactions may not adequately be recognized, interpreted, or managed therapeutically, compounding their distress. Although perhaps viewed as different or unusual they may or may not really understand the concept of death and the subsequent changes. They may not immediately grieve or as would be expected of others.

  • CultureMost societies have wakes and funerals to formalize death and honor the deceased. Many cultures have extensive mourning rituals as well. Old cultures are much more natural in their mourning. For example, Mexicans go and visit graves on a regular basis. They bring food, enjoy a feast, and converse with the dead. Our deceased are usually dressed up, wearing makeup and otherwise appear as if theyre sleeping. How far have we come in terms of accepting our own mortality? We are still very much death phobic. Death at one time was an integral part of life as people died at home surrounded by loved ones. Today the living have become isolated from the dying strengthening the notion that death is taboo adding great fear and mystery to the subject. Cultural ExpectationsWhat is wrong with our culture?

  • School policy click on the answerSchools in the US

  • When a crisis occurs, schools are viewed by children and families as a place to turn for help and support. Most educators, school administrators and even school mental health professionals have had only limited professional training to equip them to develop and implement an effective school crisis response system and to provide bereavement support to grieving students.

  • When a crisis occurs, schools are viewed by children and families as a place to turn for help and support. Most educators, school administrators and even school mental health professionals have had only limited professional training to equip them to develop and implement an effective school crisis response system and to provide bereavement support to grieving students.

  • The National Center for School Crisis and BereavementThe lives of children are too frequently touched by crises that may include the death of family members, friends, or others important in a child's life. When this occurs, learning, behavior and relationships can be impacted. The National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement (NCSCB) can provide guidance for you and yourchilds school to understand and meet the needs of your child and family.

    The National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center was established in 2005 with initialsupport from the September 11th Childrens Fund and the National Philanthropic Trust and supplemental funding from Procter & Gamble.Click on the picture for a link to this website

  • Children in 2020 How We Can Help

  • Developing Social Policy

  • ConclusionThe death of a parent is a major stressful event for children and their families. This traumatic event can bring serious psychological andsocial distress to bereaved children and their families. Children who are not supported in the early phases of grieving can develop serious emotional and behavioral problems that can lead to the development of some major psychiatric disorders. Providing early prevention support programs for surviving parents and bereaved children can help both the parents and the children adapt to their losses. These structured programs can decrease the risk of complicated grief inbereaved families.

  • Other Videos of InterestHelping Children Cope with Grief IHelping Children Cope with Grief IIHelping Children Cope with Grief IIIHospice Expressive Therapy for Children Camp ErinMourning Star Center

    Click a link for more videos

  • Thank You For Your TimeWe would like to thank you for viewing our Power Point presentation. If you would like to contact us regarding any information you have read, please leave your questions or comments on the class blog

  • ReferencesArcher, J. (1999). The Nature of Grief: The Evolution and Psychology of Reactions to Loss. New York: Routledge.

    Blewitt, P. & Broderick, P.C (2006). The Life Span: Human Development for Helping Professionals. (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

    Kubler-Ross, E. (1969). On Death and Dying: What the dying have to teach doctors, nurses, clergy and their own families. New York: Macmillian.

    Lohnes, K., & Kalter, N. (1994). Preventive Intervention Groups for Parentally Bereaved Children. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 64(4), 594-603. Retrieved June 27, 2010, from Psycharticles database.

    National Association of School Psychologists. (2003). Helping Children Cope with Loss, Death, and Grief: Tips for Teachers and Parents. Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.naspweb.org/resources/crisis_safety/griefwar.pdf

    National Institutes of Health. (2006). Talking to Children about Death. Patient Information Publications, p. 1-14.Redwood, D. (1995). Interview with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross M.D. Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.healthy.net/scr/interview.asp?Id=205

    Zambelli, G., & DeRosa, A. (1992, October). Bereavement Support Groups for School-Age Children : Theory, Intervention, and Case Example. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 62(4), 4884-493. Retrieved June 28, 2010, from Psycharticles database.

  • References

    Alison, P. (2008). How do children grieve? Community Care, 1734, 18.

    Kirwin, K., & Hamrin, V. (2005). Decreasing the risk of complicated bereavement and future psychiatric disorders in children. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 18(1), 62-78.

    McClatchey, I., Vonk, M., & Palardy, G. (2009). Efficacy of a coamp-based intervention for childhood traumatic grief. Research on Social Work Practice, 19(1), 19-30.

    Mitchell, A., Wesner, S., Garand, L., Gale, D., Havill, A., & Brownson, L. (2007). A support group intervention for children bereaved by parental suicide. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 20(1), 3-13.

    Rosner, R., Kruse, J., & Hagl, M. (2010). A meta-analysis of interventions for bereaved children and adolescents. Death Studies, 34(2), 99-136.

    Tracey, A., & Holland, J. (2008). A comparative study of the child bereavement and loss responses and needs of schools in Hull, Yorkshire and Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Pastoral Care in Education, 26(4), 253-266.