Conversations about death and dying with children of different ages

Children grieve in different ways; babies and toddlers will understandably need different support from primary school aged children and teenagers. When someone important to a child dies, it is important to understand what a child or young person already knows about death. Young children may have limited ability to express their emotions with words so they may act out their feelings through certain behaviours.  

Children can be naturally good at dipping in and out of their grief – a child may show to be intensely sad, followed by playing happily in quick succession. Shock, anger and denial are all emotional signs of grief in children which can present in physical signs of grief. These can range from a change in behaviour and mood, appetite and eating, or even physical symptoms of illness. Grief is a natural response to the death of someone close to them and children will experience complicated grief, just as adults do.