Helping Children Live with Death and Loss

Synopsis

Helping Children Live with Death and Loss is a practical guide for parents, caregivers, teachers, clergy, funeral directors, and other adults who may interact with young children between the ages of two and ten. Utilizing a developmental approach that is critical for understanding the unique characteristics and needs among children under ten, the volume is enhanced by an accessible style and format, numerous illustrations, and the positive attitude that make it possible for any reader to comprehend and apply the concepts when discussing death and loss with young children.

The scope of concepts ranges from adult self-assessment to knowledge of children's developmental stages in learning. Building on that foundation, the book provides four basic content areas for teaching, supplies sample questions and answers, and suggests strategies for teaching general death education as well as strategies for responding to a current death or loss. The resource concludes with print and internet sources for adults and children. Helping Children Live with Death and Loss also aids adults and children in improving their communication and coping skills, which are critical for managing loss and preparing for a healthier future.

Excerpt

People who face the challenge of dealing directly with death and loss often find strengths within themselves that they never knew existed. They may discover that they are truly up to the challenge. They may realize that personal growth can change their perspectives about death and add meaning to their lives. Having witnessed this personal growth in ourselves, friends, loved ones, and students, we developed a commitment to education about death and loss. Our combined history and professional experiences convinced us that this topic is so important it must be shared and explored.

As you read, you'll find that the foundation of our research comes from classic sources because they withstand the test of time very well. Our references and additional readings, however, are updated to include resources with more current examples, applications, and illustrations.

Because we know that children can learn to understand death, because we have respect for their capacity to be resilient and face difficult experiences, and because we know that children can experience the benefits of personal growth, we believe that death education should be shared with children as well as adults. Indeed, in this time of increased mass media reporting of school violence and terrorism close to home, all children potentially are at risk for feeling a major loss in their sense of safety and security. Even when events reported by the media don't affect children directly, indirectly they are affected by being forced into a new reality that “it could happen here” and “it could happen to me. ” Caring adults must be prepared to provide the education and support children need as they attempt to incorporate this new view into their world.

Since our professional approaches always have emphasized practical applications of concepts through teaching and writing, this book was a natural and exciting step. As we thought about the purpose of this book, we decided on these goals:

The source : www.questia.com