...He constantly plays like he is going on a trip to visit his Uncle Sam in heaven. These three children are different ages and have lost different role models in their lives, but they share one thing in common. All three are experiencing the grieving process. The grieving process in children differs very much from the grieving process of an adult. This must be taken into consideration by Early Childhood Educators when teaching children how to cope with this grieving process, as it is an Early Childhood Educator’s role to ensure that all children develop healthy emotional and social habits (Clarissa A., 2002) . To develop these healthy habits, it is essential that Early Childhood Educators know how a child’s concept of death is constructed, which gives caregivers and educators important information and helps them respond more sensitively to what children might feel and experience (Clarissa A., 2002). The online journal article, called “The Grieving Process in Children: Strategies for Understanding, Educating, and Reconciling Children's Perceptions of Death” (Clarissa A., 2002), clearly gives an overview of how children understand death, and suggestions for educators about how to help children through grief and loss. The website, www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au (Better Health Channel, 2013), also gives an overview of a child’s reactions to loss and grief, and how to share feelings of grief and go through the grieving...
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...Parental Bereavement and Strategies to Support School-Aged Children Claudia Maria Uriarte Colorado State University A fact of life is that at some point children will experience the death of others. Enduring an early loss have a potential impact in the mental and physical health of a child. (Corr & Nabe, 2003). Parental death can be described as one of the most traumatic events in a child’s life which can lead to negative outcomes (Haine, Ayers, Sandler, & Wolchik, 2007). Children’s attitudes toward death relate to the nature of their encounters with death and to parents and the community who will shape his or her interpretation and response to the given experience (Corr & Nabe, 2003). Resilience in young is associated with a set of attributes...
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...the people most directly affected will suffer detrimental effects on their physical and/or mental health (Jacobs 1993). What is Grief and it’s Stages Grief refers to the psychological reaction to the bereavement, the death of a loved one. When a person dies who has been a close companion and with whom we have had a close bond with, many changes in our life have to be taken in. Death of a long-term partner can force on us a need to redefine ourselves and it is not an easy task. Grief becomes a problem when someone gets stuck in grief, this is know as “complicated grief” or “chronic grief”. Factors that contribute to this include a lack of family support and remaining overly focused on past memories. Returning to normal everyday activities is the most obvious sign that the grieving stage is over. Grieving becomes problematic when it lasts longer than six months. Signs of this include loneliness, emptiness, regret, not acknowledging the death, and avoiding places that would be reminders of the deceased person. It is only problematic if these symptoms are excessive and interfere with normal everyday life. Grief is not an illness and usually does not require medication or treatment. Grief is a normal response, so it isn’t necessarily desirable to eliminate grief even though it is a normal emotional adjustment. There are a few stages of grief and it all begins with numbness, which takes place immediately after the death, and this phase can last for hours and...
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...Death and Dying and Loses in Children Debra Mayers HNG 577: Dr. Sprung 10/28/2012 Death and Dying and Losses in Children * The death of a parent is one of the most difficult events a child might face. * It prematurely exposes the child to the unpredictability of life and the tenuous nature of daily existence. * Children loosing something or someone can significantly change his or her lives. * Helping children understand the dying process will enable one to understand the grieving process. * If children cannot understand the grieving process, it can alter their lives and create unhealthy habits into adulthood. (Bushardt, Reamer & Taylor, 2011). Loss and Grief * Grief is a natural reaction to loss and is ongoing for children developmental process. * Children reacts to grief is different and may be influenced by many factors. * Children s’ perceptions of death reflects on their understanding and maturity. * Children’s maturity depends on their age, cognitive ability, and their existing experiences with life. * Children responding to death are strongly influenced by socialization and their understanding and the maturity level of that individual child. (Heath, Leavy, Hansen, Ryan, Lawrence, & Sonntag, 2008). Issues Facing Families * Teachers and family care providers, family members and counselors can create an environment that supports the children emotional needs. * When educators create that environment with...
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...Developmental Factors on how a Five-Year-Old Child Copes with Loss Loss is an unavoidable experience for all children through the different developmental stages of life. These loses may be seen through a child losing or breaking a favourite toy, or through parents being divorced, moving houses, the loss of familiar routines, schools, or friends, and also through the death of someone close to them (Corr, Charles; Balk, David. 2010). Regardless of the type of loss experienced, it will bring sadness and grief upon the child, and the way a child deals with the loss is dependant on their cognitive and psychosocial development. There are many different theorists with varying ideas on the developmental stages of life. A five-year-old child, in Jean Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory is explained to be in the preoperational period (2 to 7 years). During this period, children develop symbolic thought marked by irreversibility, centration, and egocentrism (Gill, A., 2012). This means that children are unable to completely grasp concrete logic and are unable to take in the point of view of other people. Children also increase their use of symbols and therefore increase in playing, role-playing and pretending (Cherry, K. 2004). The psychosocial development theory by Erik Erikson, describes a five-year-old child being in the initiative versus guilt stage. In this stage, Children try to function socially with their family and with other individuals. Success in this leads to self-confidence...
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...illustrated by Paul Giovanopoulos | Physical Description | 85 p. : ill | Summary, Etc. | Discusses the questions, fears, and fantasies many children experience when a parent or someone close to them dies | Subject Added Entry - Topical Term | Bereavement -- Psychological aspects -- Juvenile literature | | Parents -- Death -- Psychological aspects | Bibliographic Data | International Standard Book Number | 9.78972E+12 | Cataloging Source | NLP | Library of Congress Call Number | BF575.G7 | Dewey Decimal Classification Number | Fil 155.937 Se68p 2008 | Main Entry - Personal Name | Serrano, Claire. | Title Statement | The power of acceptance / Claire Serrano | Physical Description | 82 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 17 cm | Subject Added Entry - Topical Term | Bereavement | | Bereavement -- Psychological aspects | Bibliographic Data | International Standard Book Number | 0195105915 (pbk.) | Cataloging Source | NLP | Dewey Decimal Classification Number | Ref 155.937 083 C461h 2000 | Main Entry - Personal Name | Christ, Grace Hyslop. | Title Statement | Healing children's grief : surviving a parent's death from cancer / by Grace Hyslop Christ | Physical Description | xxi, 264 p. ; 24 cm | Subject Added Entry - Topical Term | Grief in children | | Grief in adolescence | | Bereavement in children | | Bereavement in adolescence | International Standard Book Number | 1853022853 | Cataloging Source | NLP | Dewey Decimal Classification...
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...Parental Grief Also, sometimes a parent's love makes them unable to let go. I've seen so many parents put their needs above their infant's because they just can't bear to suffer the grief of losing a child. It's heartbreaking when you can see parents in total denial and you know that the end will come one way or another but they just can't accept it. I don't know if that's the case here or not, but it's certainly a possibility. Parental Grief The theme of parental mourning has been a universal one throughout the centuries. In the literature on bereavement, writers repeat certain themes, thoughts, and reflections; they talk of the powerful and often conflicting emotions involved in "the pain of grief and the spiral of mourning; [they refer to] the heartbreak at the heart of things...grief's contradictions"; they speak of parents devastated by grief (Moffat 1992, xxiii). It is frequently said that the grief of bereaved parents is the most intense grief known. When a child dies, parents feel that a part of them has died, that a vital and core part of them has been ripped away. Bereaved parents indeed do feel that the death of their child is "the ultimate deprivation" (Arnold and Gemma 1994, 40). The grief caused by their child's death is not only painful but profoundly disorienting-children are not supposed to die. These parents are forced to confront an extremely painful and stressful paradox; they are faced with a situation in which they must deal both with the grief caused...
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...Coping With Grief at Different Ages Gadear S. Alatki PSYC 2314: Lifespan Psychology MW 1-3 Fall 2010 There are many unexplained mysteries when it comes to humans. Acting and thinking in ways that make no sense is also a known fact, and when in the topic of psychology, proof can be given from every stage of the developing person up to the point of death. When a person dies, those who had loved the deceased usually experience grief and mourning, though the impact of death has different effects for different people. Rosario states that “grief transforms” in which is referring to the many shapes it comes in (2004). Grief can be experienced physically, emotionally, socially, or mentally depending on the individual. Sleeplessness, appetite changes, physical problems, or possible illness are examples of physical reactions. Emotional reactions can include anger, guilt, anxiety, sadness, and utter despair. Those impacted socially experience feelings of responsibility for other family members, having to communicate with family or friends, feelings of being isolated, or going back to work. These are few of the many forms it takes for all of us, but it is not until researching the subject that I found what really affects grieving. I chose this topic in order to find this solution due to a particular event in my life. That day was the death of my beloved uncle. It happened one evening in the summer of 2009. An urgent call came through from one of our relatives from overseas. The...
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...developmental factors are important in the way a 5 year old child conceptualizes and responds to loss. Introduction Almost every person in the world, at one time or another, experiences events that can be considered major losses (Harvey and Weber 1998). Loss weather personal, material, or symbolic will affect us all, children too can face different levels and types of losses (Hooyman and Kramer, 2006; Viorist, 1986) cited in The Person Health and Wellbeing,(1st ed.,pp.211). There is a misconception in our society that children cannot understand or have little knowledge about death. But children of various ages and stages understand death and loss in different ways. (TRAUMA AND LOSS: Research and Interventions, Volume 3, Number 1, 2003) Jean Piaget cognitive stages of development in children are proved to be very important in children’s understanding of death, dying and grief. Childhood grief and development factors are interrelated: the age and stage of development of a child at the time of his or her parent’s death will strongly influence the ways in which the child reacts and adapts to the loss.( Garber, 1988, p. 272) The Death of a Parent: Healing Children’s Grief September( 3rd, 2009);Beth Patterson, MA, LP) A child Understanding of Death A child understanding of death occurs in the age 5-7, when according to Piaget’s theory child progress through preoperational stage of development to concrete-operational stage. (Kenyon 2001 cited in The Person Health and Well Being, 1st...
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...Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada MARU BARRERA Department of Psychology, Haematology=Oncology Program, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children and Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada NORMA D’AGOSTINO Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Survivorship Program, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada DAVID B. NICHOLAS Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada GERALD SCHNEIDERMAN Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada The authors investigated longitudinally bereavement in mothers and fathers whose children died of cancer. Thirty-one parents were interviewed 6 and 18 months post-death. Analyses revealed parental differences and changes over time: (a) employment—fathers were more work-focused; (b) grief reactions—mothers expressed more intense grief reactions that lessened over time; (c) coping—mothers were more child-focused, fathers more task-focused; (d) relationship with bereaved siblings—mothers actively nurtured relationship with child; (e) spousal relationship—parents reported diversity in their relationship over time; and (f) relationship with extended family—mothers maintained contact with extended Received 14 August 2009; accepted 7 August 2010. We wish to acknowledge the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation and...
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...DISENFRANCHISED In life, there are certain situations in which an individual's grief is not recognized and unacknowledged by others, a phenomenon that has been termed disenfranchised grief. These individuals are denied the "right to grief" and are not offered social support, sympathy, or opportunities to express their emotions. Disenfranchised grief is more actively negative and destructive as it involves denial of entitlement. Disenfranchising messages actively discount, dismiss, disapprove, discourage, and invalidate, the experiences and efforts of grieving. And disenfranchising behaviors interfere with the exercise of the right to grieve by withholding permission, disallowing, constraining, hindering, and even prohibiting it. ( Attig ). Kenneth Doka defined disenfranchised grief as the grief that people experience from a loss that is not, or cannot be, openly acknowledged, publicly mourned, or socially supported. There is a wide range of multiple losses that people experience on a daily basis that fits into a disenfranchised grief framework. These losses can range from changes in jobs and friendships to loss of a lover, through divorce or the death of a pet or due to the physical or emotional changes to a loved one brought on by conditions such as AIDS or Alzheimer's disease. In each case, where there was once an attachment, there soon follows a loss and its accompanying grief. The grief process, however, becomes more complex because the usual supports that facilitate...
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...HOW DOES STEVEN HERRICK EXPLORE THE THEME OF GRIEF AND LOSS IN “LOVE, GHOSTS AND NOSE HAIRS”? The Australian author Steven Herrick, explores the theme of grief and loss in the novel Love, Ghosts and Nose Hairs. He explores different ways that family members deal with the loss of the maternal figure. He also explores the life of Jack, a sixteen year old boy dealing with the loss of his mother. A lot of strong relationships were lost, and each family member dealt with the loss in completely different ways. Herrick shows the readers what it is like to lose a family member and the ways that some people could deal with the grief of that loss. While reading the book the themes, characterisation, language and symbolism. Herrick explores the different methods used to deal with grief and loss in the book Love, Ghosts and Nose Hairs. Herrick uses poetry...
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...physically) experienced this loss. This essay will include models and theories attached to grief and loss in counselling. Its will also outline my ability to find strength, and meaning with strategies that enabled my children and myself to cope with the loss. This essay will also explore the type of loss process (first and secondary factors) I endured, relevant social support, my personal religious views, and the nature in which defines...
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...bereavement The loss of someone close through death is a traumatic and painful event for the majority of people. For many children and young people the death of a parent, sibling, friend or relative can be extremely difficult because of the child’s inability to understand and articulate their feelings. Similarly young people who have been bereaved whilst they are on the cusp of adulthood can find the emotions that they are experiencing to be frighteningly intense. Grief is individual and the processes of mourning are never the same between two people. However some of the responses to death and bereavement can be similar depending on the age, level of comprehension, relationship with the person who has died and the emotional resilience of the mourner. The following responses are common Alternating play and sadness Members of the school staff may be the first to recognise changes in the bereaved child or young person’s behaviour outside of their immediate family, who may not have noticed if they too are grieving. Young children may appear to be sad and withdrawn one minute then might begin playing with building blocks or dolls the next. This is because unlike adults, bereaved children do not possess the emotional reserves to grieve continuously and they will need respite from their grief. Play allows the bereaved child to shift their focus from their grief, albeit for a short while, until they are sufficiently mentally restored to recommence grieving. It is of paramount importance...
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...Attachment and Grief in Nonhuman Animals Although many evolutionary psychologists are opposed to using animals in comparative studies to learn about humans, they can offer insight into the adaptations seen in humans. Comparative research, “can provide evidence of adaptation in human psychological and behavioral traits by highlighting possible analogies” (Maestripieri & Roney, 2006, p. 120). Studies in other primates have shown that the attachment system and grieving is not unique to humans. The most extensive studies have been done on Rhesus Macaques. They, like humans, form an attachment system, where the function of this behavior is to remain in proximity with the mother. They show distress when loose contact with the mother, which disappears...
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