Helping Children Navigate Grief

Grief is one of the hardest things a child may face—and supporting them through it can feel overwhelming. When a child experiences the loss of a loved one, their understanding and reactions will vary based on their age, development, family culture, and personal experience. While there's no one-size-fits-all approach, there are ways we can gently support children through grief with honesty, compassion, and care.

Here are a few ways we can help:

• Create a supportive environment with trusted adults
  Children need safe, nurturing relationships with adults who provide consistency and emotional availability.

• Lead with open-ended questions
  Rather than assuming what they’re thinking, give children space to express themselves in their own words.

• Be honest and concrete
  Use age-appropriate, clear language when discussing death. Avoid euphemisms that may cause confusion.

• Normalize and name feelings (including your own)
  Acknowledge that emotions like sadness, anger, confusion, or even relief are normal and okay.

• Offer space for different expressions of grief
  Some children may want to talk. Others may play, draw, or ask questions days—or weeks—later. All of this is okay.

• Maintain routine and reassurance
  Familiar rhythms and a sense of safety can help children feel grounded in uncertain times.

• Let them ask questions (even the hard ones)
  It’s okay to say, “I don’t know.” What matters most is being open and present.

• Reflect on your role
  You don’t have to have all the answers. Simply being a calm, loving presence is powerful.

At Miss Amy’s Neighborhood Preschool, we understand that grief can show up in many different ways. Our teachers create safe spaces where children are free to feel, express, and explore their emotions through play, conversation, and creativity. We meet each child where they are, offering gentle guidance and unwavering support as they process life’s big changes.

Action Step: 

If your child is navigating a loss, try drawing pictures together of a special memory with the loved one. Use it as an opportunity to talk about feelings, share stories, and keep their memory alive in a gentle, age-appropriate way.