1. Loss grief and bereavement counseling Teachers Information
Session: How can we help? 3/31/2015Tanecia Stevens 4th year BA
G&C1 Effects of Death on children: Losing a Mother
2. What is loss (Death) 3/31/2015Tanecia Stevens 4th year BA
G&C2 Loss: This is the feeling of grief after losing of someone
or something of value. Death: Death is defined as the cessation of
all vital functions of the body including the heartbeat, brain
activity (including the brain stem), and breathing.
3. What Mother Represents 3/31/2015Tanecia Stevens 4th year BA
G&C3 The person who gave birth: Life source Life support Head
of the house The provider of physical and psychological needs Only
source of security
4. Ways child can lose his/her mother 3/31/2015Tanecia Stevens
4th year BA G&C4 Accidental death Perlonged or Acute illness
Homicide Suicide Childs birth Abandonment Sudden mental
illness
5. Terms To Describe lost of The mother 3/31/2015Tanecia
Stevens 4th year BA G&C5 Maternal Orphant Mother-less Maternal
Deprivation
6. How the child feels? 3/31/2015Tanecia Stevens 4th year BA
G&C6 Sadness , anger, guilt and confusion, accompanied by the
grieving process. These are: 1. Denial: Disbelief or thinks she is
sleeping. 2. Anger/Blaming: Rage and blame others 3. Bargaining: An
ultimate promise if she comes back. 4. Depression: Numbness, loss
of appetite, shuts out others, unable to function. 5. Acceptance:
This can take months or years for some children.
7. Behaviours to expect 3/31/2015Tanecia Stevens 4th year BA
G&C7 Behavioral patterns may change with losing a mother. Some
expected are: Irritable Crying with Temper tantrums Eating habits
may change Stomach aches Headaches
8. Behaviours cont. 3/31/2015Tanecia Stevens 4th year BA
G&C8 Reversion to baby habits (thumb sucking, comfort blanket
etc.). They may suddenly be afraid of the dark, suffer periods of
sadness, anger, anxiety.
9. How can teacher help the child? 3/31/2015Tanecia Stevens 4th
year BA G&C9 Never have child believe you dont care. Listen
carefully to what the children say about things. Sometimes their
grief is not obvious. If the children are very young you may not
realize that they are suffering badly, but in a different way, from
the loss. Try to encourage children to express their grief. It may
be by drawing pictures of their mother; it may be by talking about
death.
10. Teachers help continue 3/31/2015Tanecia Stevens 4th year BA
G&C10 Home visit Encourage class participation; dont allow
child to feel left out because mother is dead. If other children
wants to, you can allowed to participate at the funeral (with
permission) Provide love and emotional support. Be a role model
Make sure children understand that all sickness does not end in
death. Fears and fantasies should be dealt with.
11. When to refer the child? 3/31/2015Tanecia Stevens 4th year
BA G&C11 Teachers as soon as you know that the childs mother
dies you must refer the child to the guidance counselor or school
psychologist because they are specialized in that area. You will
help the child in whatever way you can but you must be careful
because some children may become attached or tries to use you to
replace their mothers. If behaviors persist or get out of control
the guidance counselor or school psychologist will refer to the
appropriate area of specialist.
12. What does the child needs? 3/31/2015Tanecia Stevens 4th
year BA G&C12 These children need a secure, stable environment.
Try to keep to the normal routine. They will need attention and
love. Children need to know that death is nothing like
sleeping.
13. Inform the father of caregiver 3/31/2015Tanecia Stevens 4th
year BA G&C13 Tell the father or the present caregiver to
contact the child's principal, day care supervisor or school
teacher so they can be alert to any problems facing the child. If
worrying behavior or distress persists get professional help and
support. Some fathers or relatives will just say the child is
missing the mother and allow situation to escalate into bigger
problems. Children need to know that death is nothing like
sleeping. The think they are helping to tell the mommy is
sleeping.
14. References 3/31/2015Tanecia Stevens 4th year BA G&C14
Human Development and Family Science www.hec.ohio-state.edu/famlife
Bowlbys Attachment Theory
http://www.simplypsychology.org/bowlby.html