Children’s Grief Awareness Day

 

Support can make huge difference to a grieving child. Supporting a child who has lost an important person in their life can be as simple as taking them to a place where they can have some fun.

The CMHA-WECB arranged a visit to the Windsor-Essex Therapeutic Riding Association (WETRA) on Nov. 21 to help grieving children. This event was held in recognition of the Children’s Grief Awareness Day.

Carolyn Jenner-Dupuis is a therapist for Children’s Griefworks at the CMHA-WECB who said around 10 families visited WETRA, where the children enjoyed creating some memorial crafts, a family memory jar and preparing pony treats.

Jenner-Dupuis said a grieving child may have some difficulties, but the most important thing in their life is to have support around them.

“Things become difficult in the areas of sleeping, areas of eating, and the areas with regulating their behaviours and their emotions in terms of following rules at school,” said Jenner-Dupuis. “We know if they do not receive that support that they need, we will see behaviours or things that may happen in other areas of their lives.”

She also said expressing sadness is normal and guardians should know that, but it is important to simply be there.

“Be there for someone, even if they don’t want to talk about it, just spend time with that child….Tell the child that it is okay,” said Jenner-Dupuis.

Canada has over 203,000 of bereaved children who are under the age of 18, according to the Children and Youth Grief network website.