Feature Article
Helping Children Cope with Loss
Robert Hughes, Jr., Ph.D., Former Professor, Department of Human Development & Family Studies, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia
Many children in single-parent families feel loss,
which can make them feel rejected or lonely. Coping with
loss is one of the most difficult tasks for children in
single-parent families. They can have these same
feelings if their parents are divorced, never married,
or if a parent has died. In cases where the parents get
a divorce or where one parent dies, children will feel
this loss right away. In cases where the parents have
never married, children may not have these feelings
until they see that some other children live with both
parents. In each case, they mourn the loss of the parent
or the loss of a family life.
Children must cope with their sense of loss, but they
also need to build a new sense of their family. Help
them build strong relationships with other family
members, friends, and other adults. This will help them
have a sense of security and belonging.
Feelings of Loss
When children feel loss, they feel sadness, and they
fear that other losses will follow. In the case of death
or divorce, children will miss the pattern of family
life as well as the missing parent. Children whose
parents never married may miss a family life they
dreamed of or hoped for.
One of the most common ways for children to deal with
their feelings of loss is to pretend that nothing has
changed. They may pretend that a parent has not really
left or died. They may insist that the missing parent
will return. They may dream that everything will be like
it used to be.
It is also common for children to fear that the other
parent is going to leave them too. As they begin to
realize that one parent has left the home, they may
think the other parent will also leave. Some very
fearful children may not let that parent out of their
sight.
Children often think that losing a parent is a sign
that they are not worthy of love. They may even think,
“If I was really important, this wouldn’t have
happened.” They may feel badly about themselves. It is
very important for children to understand that changes
in their parents’ lives do not mean they are not loved.
Coping With Grief
It is important to understand that children do feel
loss. They have moments of sadness and long for a family
life they had in the past or one that might have been.
Adults must care about these feelings, even though they
may trigger strong feelings of loss or anger in the
adult. Sometimes it is very difficult to help children
deal with their feelings.
Many times children simply need a chance to talk
about their feelings and to realize that people do care
about them. This means listening to what they say and
explaining things they may not understand.
Stable, Loving Relationships
Children need to understand that changes in their family
life do not mean that they are being rejected. They need
to hear this from their parents, but they also need to
feel it and see it. For divorced or never-married
parents, this means that children must continue to see
both mom and dad. The clearest way that children can
know that their parents both love them is to be with
them regularly. In cases of abuse, it might be better to
keep a parent away from the child, but most children
will benefit from being with both parents.
A warm, secure relationship with the parent still at
home will also help children’s sense of loss. Set up
routines at home such as regular times for meals, bed,
chores, and homework to give children a sense of order.
Make some special times for sharing feelings and
thoughts, such as at dinner or just before bed. Let
children talk about what they are feeling and doing.
Share love with hugs, special notes, and talking
together. Remind children that their parents care about
them.
Support System
In addition to parents, many other people in children’s
lives can provide love and encouragement. It helps most
children to be in contact with other people during a
time of change in the family.
All of the people who are involved with the children
should know what’s happening to the family. Teachers,
day care workers, aunts and uncles, and neighbors should
know that the child may be having a hard time at home.
They can give extra hugs and kind words to the child.
They can be ready to listen if the child has some
special concerns or questions. They may also protect the
child from being teased by other children.
The best sign for children that they are worth loving
is having others care about them. While all children
should have ties with others, children who have lost a
parent due to death or who have little contact with the
divorced parent may really need to be involved with
other adults. Help children visit other people and
create chances for children to spend time with
grandparents, relatives, neighbors, and others. That
will remind the child of all the people who care about
him or her.
Other children may also help. Playing, having a good
time, and being with friends will help children feel
good about themselves. Some schools and communities have
support groups for children in single-parent families.
These groups may help children see how other kids are
coping.
Children in single-parent families may have strong
feelings of loss, but they can learn to deal with these
feelings as adults give them love, make them feel
secure, and help them build strong ties with others who
can give them support and comfort.
Discussion Questions
The following questions can be used to talk about loss
with children.
- We all need people who care about us. Who are some of the people that care about you?
- We all need friends. Who are some of your good friends? Why are they your friend? What sort of things do good friends do with each other?
- When one of your parents goes to live somewhere some kids feel like this parent doesn’t love them anymore. Have you ever felt that way? What do you do when you feel like that?
- When you feel sad or lonely, who can you talk to?
Activity
Have your children draw pictures of all of the people
who care about them. First have them draw themselves in
the middle of the paper. Then around them draw all of
the people who care about them. This could include
friends, brothers and sisters, neighbors, teachers,
grandparents, and other relatives.
Last Updated 05/12/2009
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