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Grief and Teens
Grief is not the same in children and teens. Teens who have experienced a loss or a death of someone they know will exhibit emotions and behaviors that correspond with a way of trying to deal with their grief and may get mixed up with their normal adolescent development. Here you will find resources to help you help your grieving teen. There are also resources for parents who have lost a teenager.
5 Things Parents Can Do to Help Grieving Teens
While some deaths are expected and some are not, all have an impact on the family and friends of the one who has died. Teens will need their parents help when dealing with grief as much as they needed their help when learning how to walk. Here are five things a parent can do to help a grieving teen.
5 Things Teens Can Do to Remember Their Grandparents
Teens who have had a grandparent die will need to do things to remember them, as grandparents - and our memories of them - help us build family bonds, a sense of belonging and give us a firm foundation in life. You can help your teen remember by encouraging them to do one or more of the five things suggested in this article.
Hotlines to Help Teens
Sometimes you need to reach out and get help from others who have been there or who are prepared to help you deal with your pain. Hotlines set up to address adolescent issues provide an excellent resource to teens, includes a listing for grieving teens and parents.
The Grieving Garden: Living with the Death of a Child
Book Review The Grieving Garden: Living with the Death of a Child
Grief Resources for Parents and Teens
Coping with grief takes time and the understanding that it never truly goes away, but you can heal. The time it takes to get past the pain in grief for both parents who have lost their teen and teens who have a loss in their lives is easier to deal with when getting support from those who understand and can help you cope. In an effort to help, I have listed here some community website resources.
Grief and Children
An article from About.com's Parenting of K-6 Children site. The article is divided into the stages of childhood ranging in age from preschool to pre-teen.
Helping Teenagers Cope with Grief
A comprehensive and informative article by Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt located on Hospice.net.
The Compassionate Friends
'The Compassionate Friends is a national nonprofit, self-help support organization which offers friendship and understanding to families who are grieving the death of a child of any age, from any cause.'