62 - Essential Messages (Grieving) Children Need from Adults

Michele Benyo explains why when young children experience loss, well-meaning adults often make the mistake of trying to protect children from the painful truth of grief. Adults may say things like, “It’ll be okay,” when the child can clearly see it is not okay. When adults don’t talk about the loss or share their own feelings, they are leaving the child alone to experience a confusing situation and emotions they don’t understand. In the midst of loss, children need simple, honest information accompanied by essential messages that do more than say, “It’ll be okay,” by building the child’s resilience and reinforcing their sense of well-being.

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