Grief can have a profound impact on children, both emotionally and developmentally. When a child experiences the loss of a loved one, whether it is a parent, sibling, grandparent, or close friend, they can feel a range of intense emotions, such as sadness, anger, confusion, and even guilt. Here are some ways that grief can affect children:
- Emotional impact: Children may experience a range of emotions, including sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, anxiety, and depression. They may have difficulty expressing their feelings or understanding what they are feeling.
- Behavioral impact: Grief can affect a child’s behavior in many ways. They may withdraw from social activities, become clingy or dependent on others, have trouble sleeping or eating, or exhibit other regressive behaviors.
- Developmental impact: Children who experience grief may struggle with developmental milestones, such as learning to walk or talk, as their emotional needs may take precedence over physical development.
- Academic impact: Grief can also affect a child’s academic performance. They may have difficulty concentrating or lose interest in schoolwork. They may also miss school or have trouble with attendance.
- Relationship impact: Grief can strain relationships between children and other family members or friends. Children may have difficulty trusting others or may have a harder time forming new relationships.
It is important for parents, caregivers, and educators to provide support and understanding to children who are experiencing grief. Seeking professional counselling or therapy can also be helpful for children and their families to navigate the grieving process.
Children can react to death differently at different ages. Children’s understanding of death evolves as they grow and develop, and their reactions to death can vary depending on their age, personality, cultural background, and life experiences.
The following piece by Barnardo’s can be useful to help explain death to children and young people.