How Preschoolers Express Grief
- Bedwetting
- Thumb sucking
- Clinging to adults
- Exaggerated fears
- Excessive crying
- Temper tantrums
- Regression
- Stubbornness
Helping the Grieving Preschooler
- Answer the child's question honestly and simply; allow them to talk about the loss; help them share their fears and worries.
- Provide simple routines.
- Give the child affection and nurturing; attempt to connect with them.
- Provide more opportunities for play.
- Be patient with regressive behaviors such as thumb sucking.
- Provide opportunities for the expression of painful emotions through play, creative outlets, and talk. Teach them to recognize and name their full range of feelings.
- Introduction to Grief and Children
- How Preschoolers Express Grief and Ways You Can Help
- How Elementary School-Age Children Express Grief and Ways You Can Help
- How Pre-Teens and Early Adolescents Express Grief and Ways You Can Help
