Losing a loved one is difficult, and it can be particularly upsetting or confusing to children. They may not be old enough to understand death, or they may struggle to put their feelings into words. As you process your own sense of loss, help your kids do the same. Use the tips below to facilitate emotional healing with your children before and after the memorial service.

Ways to Help Your Children Process Grief

1. Encourage Them to Talk About Their Feelings

If your child is young enough that death confuses them, find picture books or other resources to help them understand loss. If your child understands but clams up when you try to talk about it, encourage them to express themselves through other mediums, such as drawing, collage, or music. You can also open a conversation by sharing happy memories of your loved one instead of dwelling on their loss.

2. Be Clear & Honest

Throughout the memorial service and the mourning process, your child will feel intense emotions and witness them in others. This can be confusing and overwhelming, and they may feel like hiding from it all. Be completely honest about the funeral process, especially if they’ve never experienced loss before, and prepare them for what will happen at the memorial service. If the loss of a loved one has altered their normal routine, be direct as you explain their new schedule.

3. Give Them Time & Space to Process

If your child is experiencing loss for the first time, they may react in myriad ways. Younger children may feel responsibility or guilt, while adolescents may lash out in anger. Patience is key — these emotional responses take time to pass, and your child should feel like they have room to work through their grief. Give them space, even if it takes a while to heal.

If you’ve lost a loved one, the last thing you want is to deal with a complicated and stressful planning process. The compassionate team at Brater-Winter Funeral Home, based in Sayler Park, OH, will help arrange a thoughtful memorial service that will give you and your family peace of mind and time to heal. They can also help manage social security and insurance coverage for the funeral. To talk to a caring representative, call (513) 941-1940, and visit them online to learn more about how they can help honor the life of your loved one.