Cremation services Waite Hill, OH

How to Help a Child Cope with Death of a Parent

Cremation services Waite Hill, OH, help you say goodbye. However, the mere thought of losing a parent can be excruciating and depressing. One cannot even imagine what it feels for a child to lose a parent. For them, it’s like losing a support system. Research shows that the death of a parent has severe long-term consequences for grieving children if appropriate steps are not taken to help them cope with the grief.

The onus lies on the other parent or the primary caretaker to make sure they manage to overcome this painful experience. Here are some of the ways to handle the situation:

Don’t Hide the News from Them

It is challenging for a parent or elder sibling to convey tragic news to a child. But it has to be appropriately communicated to avoid leaving any room for misunderstanding.

Try to be simple and straightforward in selecting words and let them know that the parent has left forever. Don’t use vague terms or beating around the bush as it can further the child’s distress and handling of the news.

Take Them to the Funeral Service

Allow the child to attend the final services of their parent – if they want to hear. For any child, participating in a funeral expedites the healing process and helps them accept and adapt to the new reality.

What’s important is to guide them on what they might see and hear during the services and arrange them with a person they’re comfortable with to accompany them during the final benefits.

Expect your child to question various questions afterward, like “Will daddy never come back?”, “Is daddy in heaven”? Answer the questions calmly and make them believe you’re available anytime for them.

Help Them Identify and Express Feelings

Children feel vulnerable, weak, and lost after losing a parent and seek solace in loneliness and silence. Assure them that you understand their emotions and are here to listen to them, take care of them, and share their grief.

It’ll encourage them to ask questions, share their emotions, and feel secure around you. Also, it will help them ensure that talking about death or remembering the lost one is not taboo in the house.

Acknowledge and Respect Their Grief

No two persons grieve the same way, which holds even more true for young kids. It’s next to impossible to realize their exact feelings without spending ample time with them and sharing them.

Bursting into tears several times a day is natural for kids. They have limited tolerance levels when grieving the loss of a parent.

Also, they might not seem to be grieving when they’re, so you have to keep tabs on their daily routine and behavior and check on them every hour.

Cremation services Waite Hill, OHEncourage them to Return to Normal Routine

For a grieving child, returning to normalcy is very important. Indulge them in fun activities and encourage them to play sports they like. Take them to a park, hiking, or play center once or twice a week to break the cycle of loneliness after cremation services Waite Hill, OH.