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Grief: Helping Children With Grief

Overview

It's important for adults to listen to a child and answer any questions or concerns. To express their feelings, children need an adult who makes them feel safe and secure. Childcare providers, teachers, and school counselors may also be able to help your child.

The ways children express grief are often different from the way adults express it. Children aren't always able to use words to say what they feel. Instead, they express their feelings through behavior.

Keep your child's age and emotional development in mind as you help your child through grief. Children adjust to loss and death in different ways as they grow and develop.

How to help a child during the grieving process

Here are some ideas for helping a child during the grieving process.

  • First, examine your own feelings about loss.

    This is especially important if you lost someone or something important as a child. It may help you recognize and understand your child's feelings. Think about what helped (and didn't help) you deal with the loss. The things that helped you may also help your child.

  • Help your child feel safe.

    Children need to feel safe and secure with an adult to express their feelings about loss. Let your child know that all feelings are normal.

  • Tell others about your child's recent loss.

    Child care providers, teachers, and school counselors may also be able to help your child work through grief.

  • Use activities to help your child express feelings about the loss.

    Choose an activity that fits your style and your child's age and developmental level. Consider your child's personality and comfort level in talking about feelings. Here are some ideas:

    • Read a book or watch a movie. Books and movies can help children understand the concept of loss and death. Ask a librarian to recommend good choices for your child's age. Talk with your child about the story and especially about your child's feelings.
    • Make up stories. Storytelling lets you and your child change what happens in the story. Your child can change sad feelings to more positive ones that provide comfort.
    • Draw pictures. Drawing feelings may be easier than talking about them. Ask your child to draw a picture of what's happening to your child. You can also draw a picture of what is happening to you. Explain what you drew and ask your child to explain their picture. You can use drawing along with storytelling to help your child deal with grief.
    • Act out feelings through play. You can use stuffed animals, puppets, or other toys to act out what's going on. Sometimes it's easier for a child to let a favorite stuffed animal to speak for them. A young child may find it easier to talk to a toy than to talk directly with an adult.
  • Evaluate the activity.
    • Observe your child during and after the activity. What emotions did your child express? Talk with your child about these emotions. Clear up any mistaken ideas your child has.
    • Practice the activity in the presence of another adult. Ask the adult to tell you how well they think the activity worked for your child.
    • If one activity doesn't work well, try another one.

Credits

Current as of: November 16, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Current as of: November 16, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Dear patient

I am excited to announce that I will be relocating my practice to Houston Methodist DeBakey Cardiology Associates. Starting November 4, 2024, my new address will be:

Houston Methodist DeBakey Cardiology Associates
6550 Fannin St.
Smith Tower, Suite 1901
Houston, TX 77030

Please note that my phone number and fax number will also change to the following:
24-Hour Telephone: 713-441-1100
Fax: 713-790-2643
Clinical Support Telephone (M-F, 8-5): 713-441-3515

I am excited about caring for you in my new office and hope you will make the transition with me. I will also continue to refill your medications as I have in the past. To assist, please provide your pharmacy with my new contact information.

Please consider checking your prescription refills to verify that you have enough medication on hand to last you until your next visit. Please note that your medical records will remain at my former office until you authorize their transfer. If you choose for me to continue providing your medical care, please complete and sign the enclosed “Authorization for Release of Medical Records” form and fax it to 713-790-2643. Once we receive your authorization, we will be happy to process the request for you.

Thank you for entrusting me with your medical care. My new team and I are dedicated to making this transition as seamless as possible. For help scheduling an appointment and transitioning your care, please call my new office number above.

I look forward to continuing your care at my new location.

Sincerely,
Gopi A. Shah, MD

Dear patient

Dr. Albert Raizner, Dr. Michael Raizner, and Dr. Mohamed El-Beheary are excited to announce that our practice, Houston Cardiovascular Associates, will merge with Houston Cardiovascular Associates on November 1, 2024.

Our new offices are similarly located in Houston, near the Texas Medical Center and in Sugar Land. Our in-hospital care will continue at Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center and Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. Importantly, our new offices expand our services with state-of-the-art equipment and amenities. Our core values will always be, as they began over 40 years ago when Dr. Albert Raizner founded HCA:

Integrity – Compassion – Accountability

Our new address and contact information are:

Your medical records are confidential and remain available at our new locations. We consider it a privilege to serve as your cardiologists and look forward to your continuing with us. However, should you desire to transfer to another physician, you may request a copy of your records by contacting us at our new addresses and phone numbers listed above.

We thank you for your trust and loyalty. As always, we will continue to be here to take care of you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Dr. Albert Raizner,
Dr. Michael Raizner,
Dr. Mohamed El-Beheary