Children and adults grieve differently. Children develop an understanding of what death means as they grow and have new life experiences. Every child is different in how they react to and cope with loss. uring this time, it is normal for children to go back and forth between playing and feeling sad.
Your child’s understanding may be affected by their age, relationship with the person who died, and earlier experiences with death. Family, cultural, and religious beliefs are other influences that may impact the way your child copes with death. The following stages of development are suggested to help guide you in understanding your child’s grief reactions and behaviors during this time. Keep in mind that your child may have developmental characteristics in one or more of the following stages:
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