5 Ways to Grow Through Grief

You can’t protect your children from loss, but you can walk alongside them through grief. Every child has lost something: a best friend, beloved pet, or cherished possession. Some children are coping with disruptive or painful health issues; others have witnessed the emotional or physical suffering of a loved one. Moving to a new home or school is also a major life transition that involves loss and grief. How do you help your children heal? These practical, inspirational tips are separated into five categories—spirit, heart, soul, body, and mind—to give you a variety of ways to cope with loss. Everyone grieves differently, but one sign of healthy grieving for both children and adults is the ability to feel and express sorrow, confusion, and fear. Experiencing the emotional pain of loss is scary and even overwhelming for people of all ages, but processing or moving through grief is essential for healing. Processing pain involves allowing emotions to rise without denying or suppressing them, and expressing even the most difficult feelings. This helps dissolve the grief.