Grief and Loss Issues in Elementary-Age Children Chippewa Valley Schools Information for Teachers.
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Transcript of Grief and Loss Issues in Elementary-Age Children Chippewa Valley Schools Information for Teachers.
Grief and Loss Issuesin
Elementary-Age Children
Chippewa Valley Schools
Information for Teachers
If children are old enough to love,
they are old enough to grieve.
At any given time, half of the children in your classroom may be affected by some kind of
loss.
Losses Children GrieveLosses Children Grieve
Death of someone significantIllness of an important personParental separation/divorceFamily moveParental addictionParental incarcerationLoss of a loved pet
Grieving in ChildhoodGrieving in Childhood
Grief responses can be acute or subtle and hard to observe.
Children tend to grieve sporadically, in unpredictable bursts.
Grief issues may re-emerge at later developmental stages.
Grieving is more complicated after a sudden or traumatic loss.
Common Grief ReactionsCommon Grief Reactionsin Childrenin Children
Sadness
Anger
Lowered self-esteem
Guilt
Fears
Insecurity
Denial
Relief
Behaviors You Might ObserveBehaviors You Might Observe
Acting out behaviorsAgitationWithdrawalPhysical complaints/fatigueRegression to younger behaviorsSeparation problems/ clingingPoor concentrationInconsistent school performanceDecreased work production
Each child’s grief experience is unique.
Children’s Perception of DeathChildren’s Perception of Death
Preschool Through 1Preschool Through 1stst Grade Grade
Death is not seen as finalDead thought of as ghostsMagical thinking
22ndnd Grade Through 5 Grade Through 5thth Grade Grade
Increased awareness that people die
View death as happening only to others
May feel they caused the death
Interested in the physical aspects of death
One in twenty children will have a parent die before s/he
graduates from high school.
Many more children will lose some other significant person
(sibling, other family member, or friend)
to death.
Gain InformationGain InformationAfter hearing about the loss:
Contact the familyGather accurate informationDetermine how the student is coping with the lossDiscuss what information should be shared with the
classAsk about funeral arrangements Offer to be of assistance
Provide a Supportive Provide a Supportive EnvironmentEnvironment
Prior to the child’s return to school, share factual information with the class– Answer students’ questions directly while
staying within their capacity to understand– Provide them with the opportunity to share
their feelings
Create an opportunity for students to reach out to their grieving classmate, e.g. condolence cards
Brainstorm with the class acceptable statements of sympathy
Provide a Supportive Provide a Supportive EnvironmentEnvironment
Support the Grieving ChildSupport the Grieving Child
Speak to the child privately to offer your supportListen. Allow the child to express his/her
feelings Reduce school work as neededBe watchful for events that may trigger more
intense feelings e.g. holidays, anniversary of death, etc.
Understand that grieving is a long process
Remember that the grieving child does not always look sad
Recognize that acting out behaviors may be a way of expressing distress
Support the Grieving ChildSupport the Grieving Child
Children may not remember what you
say, but they will never forget how you
make them feel.
Increasing numbers of children face significant and sometimes multiple losses.
Besides the death of a significant person, these
losses may include illness of a family member, parental
separation or divorce, family moves, etc.
When to be ConcernedWhen to be ConcernedBe concerned if a child:Evidences dramatic changeDisplays prolonged depression, anger, or
withdrawalExhibits dramatic decline in school work
for an extensive periodMakes suicidal statements
Alert parents, administrators, school social worker, counselor, and/or psychologist.
ResourcesResources
Your building social worker, counselor, or psychologist can provide you more information: – strategies for supporting the grieving child– classroom activities– referral information– resource materials for children and parents
ResourcesResources
Your building crisis team can assist in the management of an acute crisis situation.
Outside ResourceOutside Resource
SandCastlesHospices of Henry Ford Health System
Ongoing grief support program for children and their families who have experienced the death of a
significant person
Meets at Chippewa Valley High School Free of Charge
For more information contact: 313- 874-6881
As a teacher you have the opportunity to
touch children’s lives in a very special way.
Your actions can have a life-long impact.
This information has been provided by the
Chippewa Valley Schools
District Crisis Coordinating Team
whose mission is to support district staff and building crisis teams in crisis response efforts.