Supporting a bereaved child
Winston’s Wish provides emotional and practical bereavement support to children and young people.
Bereavement support for children and young people
Our expert team at Winston’s Wish offer advice, guidance and bereavement support to children, young people and families before and after the death of a parent, sibling or other loved one. Below you will find guidance on topics including talking to children about death, attending a funeral and coping with anniversaries. Also, we share our suggested reading list and activities to download, plus specialist advice for deaths by suicide, homicide and serious illness and advice on supporting children with SEND after a bereavement.
Advice on supporting bereaved children and young people
How to tell a child someone has died
Our team offer some gentle and caring ways to tell a child that their loved one has died and suggest the age-appropriate language you could use.
What do children understand about death?
We explain how much children and young people understand about death at different ages and how you can support them.
How to help children understand grief
A simple way to think about what it actually feels like to be bereaved to help children understand their grief and emotions.
Ways to cope with anniversaries, birthdays and special days
Guidance on how to cope with emotions that may resurface on significant days and ways you could mark those important days.
Do children grieve differently to adults?
The ways children may experience and express grief depending on their age, their understanding and their ability to talk about their feelings.
Should children attend a funeral?
Our team discuss why it could benefit children and young people to be involved in a funeral, memorial or other ritual and how you can prepare them.
Resources for bereaved children and young people
Suggested reading list
A list of books to help bereaved children up to the age of 16 to understand what has happened and to help them express their feelings.
Activities
Activities to help grieving children and young people to explore and express their feelings and to help them maintain memories of the person who has died.
Ways to remember
A guide suggesting 10 ways to remember the person who died, especially on birthdays, anniversaries and special days.
