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Helping Children Cope With Loss

August 30, 2018

The death of a parent, family member, friend or even a pet can be devastating to a child. Parental separation, divorce, relocation, illness or accident may be traumatic as well. Yet, there are actions teachers and school counselors can take to help children cope with loss. When working with hurting children, remember, they do not “get over” a significant loss, instead they learn how to live with it. How can you help? Acknowledge a child’s grief through kind words, gentle actions and unconditional support. Whenever possible, coordinate with the family so that the child receives consistent messages. Help the parent see that protecting the child from the truth can have negative consequences like increasing confusion, fear and resentment. Together, help…

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