Supporting children through grief and loss

Children and adolescents can process their grief and sense of loss in unique and varied ways. It is important to find out what they already know before initiating a conversation.

Our experience in talking to children encourages honest and gentle conversations with them, using clear, age-appropriate terminology like “dying” or “death” and avoiding ambiguous or euphemistic terms such as “passing away” or “final sleep”.

Children and teenagers may not have the words to express their grief and will often respond differently from adults. We can help you identify and learn to recognise possible signs of distress—such as behaving like nothing has happened, school refusal, or avoidance of conversations—and to understand when they may be struggling to cope.

Teenagers and younger children can experience emotional reactions, including shock, anger, anxiety, and guilt. During this time, you can reassure them that they are loved and cared for.

You may find it helpful to maintain a routine and create some gentle boundaries to help them feel stable and secure. You may wish to gently encourage them to talk, but it’s important to understand they may prefer to confide in friends or a counsellor. While some children need support at this time, some children show incredible resilience, acceptance and wisdom and can process death and grief in a way that works well for them.

Karuna provides resources and support to help the whole family navigate the challenges of serious illness and bereavement.