Losing a loved one is difficult enough for adults with fully developed brains and the helpful references of past experiences. We know it's going to hurt, we know dealing with that pain can be a long process, and we also know that it usually gets easier with time. But when you're a child with limited coping skills and a much smaller backlog of experiences — some children might have only been exposed to death through cartoons and the television — death can be confusing.
As parents, of course we'd love to protect our children from ever having to feel the pain of a loss, but the experience is an inevitable one. If you're dealing with the death of a grandparent, a beloved pet, or someone else close to your child, here's how you can help them work through their emotions.