Death Of A Pet And Children - Helping Children With Bereavement

Many times, the death of a pet is a child's first experience with death. It is a heartbreaking, confusing event for children of all ages. It is important to use this moment as a way to teach your child about death and to help them through the grieving process.

Healthy, open communication is needed during this time. Do not discourage your child from talking about the death of a pet or to keep their feelings inside. Let them know that their pet was an important part of the family and that crying is perfectly natural and healthy.

It is also important that you share your thoughts and feelings of grief over your deceased pet with your child. The child needs to see that you are going through the process with them and that they are not alone. Use this opportunity to discover any misconceptions your child may have about death. You will probably be surprised by what they do and do not know.

The death of a pet is an opportunity to allow your child to talk about their feelings about death and dying. Encourage them to ask questions and do your best to answer them. If you don't know the answers, it's okay. There are many good children's books that address the topic of the death of a pet. Use these books to supplement your conversations with your child.

If your religion beliefs include the idea of heaven, your child may find comfort in knowing that their pet is playing with other pets in heaven. It is important that your child knows that his/her pet is no longer in pain and cannot be harmed.

To honor your deceased pet, have your child help you create a memorial. Perhaps they will want to draw a picture of the pet. Another idea is to make a scrapbook or photo album. Actively participating in an activity gives the child a sense that they are making a difference rather than feeling helpless. Share happy memories of the pet while you work on the memorial.

A memorial service after the death of a pet is a helpful way to help your child grieve. It reassures your child that their pet was not "just a pet" and that it was a beloved member of the family. Honoring the deceased pet with a special service is a wonderful way to say goodbye. It is important that your child participate in this activity at whatever level they feel comfortable. This could be something as simple as reading a poem during the service.

Most importantly, open communication is a key factor in helping your child grieve the death of a pet. Just like adults, children experience stages of grief. It is up to adults to help them through this very sad time.

For more information on how to deal with the loss of a pet, go to this site [http://howtodealwiththelossofapet.com/]. The site also contains a memorial page [http://howtodealwiththelossofapet.com/in-memoriam/] where you can share a photo of your dearly departed friend.