When a child loses a loved one, sometimes he or she has the most difficult time coping because of the lack of communication skills. Here are 3 ways to help a grieving child cope in a healthy manner.
Counseling
To start, your child to needs to work with a professional who can help him or her to feel safe when sharing feelings. Even if your child is too young to really express feelings in words, counseling can work wonders. This is because a counselor or psychologist can give your child the tools needed to cope. For example, one of the best ways for a child to cope is by drawing pictures of what he or she is feeling. Sometimes this is much easier than using words, and the picture will give you great insight into what your child is dealing with.
When it comes to therapy, make sure that your child is attending sessions consistently so that he or she can fully work through the emotions of the situation. It may even be a good idea to attend counseling as a family so that you can all work together and support one another.
Music
Second, consider the music in your home. If there is a lack of it, then you need to find a way to incorporate positive, soothing music that will calm your child. Consider allowing your child to try a new musical instrument and private lessons. Music is a healing art form that can give your child an escape from the pain. Some children even use music to express their emotions, which means that they can show you if they are happy, sad, mad, depressed, or at peace.
Music can become a great source of refuge, so ask your child if he or she is interested in learning a new instrument, and then allow him or her to pick the right instrument.
Activity
Lastly, if your child has a lot of anger and aggression, sometimes physical activity is the best way to help him or her cope. This may include joining a sports team, doing an individual sport, or being active on a daily basis. If your child is active, the physical exertion may bring forth emotions that he or she is trying to keep hidden. When this happens, you will start to see how your child is handling the grieving process, and he or she may start to heal. If you notice that sports are making the aggression worse, make sure that therapy is part of the treatment so that your child knows how to channel those emotions.
By doing one or more of these three things, your child can grieve well and learn to be at peace at a difficult time in life. If you're concerned about your child's psychological well-being, visit Comprehensive Behavioral Health Associates Inc.
Share6 April 2015
When I was younger, my parents didn't like us to talk about our problems. Instead of voicing our concerns, my parents encouraged us to work on our issues privately. Although this attitude taught me a great deal about personal strength, it has made it hard for me to talk about my problems with other people. After two failed marriages, I realized that the lack of communication could hurt my ability to work well with coworkers, spouses, roommates, and friends. In an attempt to correct my bad habits, I started working with a professional counselor, which made an immediate difference in my life. I know that counseling can help you too, which is why I created a website dedicated to communication and counseling.
