How Parents Can Help Children Deal with Grief

05/02/17 • 29 min

In our last podcast Dr. Sara and Dr. John, teamed up with Dr. Tina Barrett from Tamarack Grief Resource Center as we answered some questions about how to talk about death. This week, we go from talking to doing, as we invite Dr. Tina back, this time to discuss how parents can help children deal with grief. After Dr. Sara and Dr. John check in on each other’s grief memories, Dr. Tina shares more of her infinite wisdom on how we, as practically perfect parents, can help support our kids through grief. From emotional regulation to behavior, Dr. Tina describes what’s normal for grieving families, and how to cope with complex and difficult grief experiences.

This podcast is brought to you by the Charles Engelhard Foundation, and the National Parenting Education Network.

If you would like to be a sponsor please let us know!

Resources mentioned in this podcast:

Why Do People Die? Helping Your Child Understand-With Love and Illustrations

By: Cynthia MacGregor

The Dougy Center in Portland Oregon.

How Parents Can Help Children Deal with Grief

This podcast is brought to you by the Charles Engelhard Foundation, and the National Parenting Education Network.

If you would like to be a sponsor please let us know!

Resources mentioned in this podcast:

Why Do People Die? Helping Your Child Understand-With Love and Illustrations

By: Cynthia MacGregor

The Dougy Center in Portland Oregon.

Previous Episode

Talking with Children about Life & Death

In keeping with our “Big Talks” theme, this episode focuses on how parents can face and manage conversations about death with their children. Beginning with memories from their childhoods and concluding with money tips and resources, Dr. Sara and Dr. John ramble from practical tips to philosophical truths. Best of all, sandwiched in the middle is an interview with Dr. Tina Barrett, executive director of the Tamarack Grief Resource Center in Missoula, MT. Dr. Tina opens with a quote from Mr. Rogers, encouraging parents to provide their children with honest and simple responses to questions about death. She describes how parents can face distress together with their children in ways that builds strengths. Dr. Tina also provides ideas for how parents can talk about grief in ways that combine spirituality with biological realities. If you’re not sure how to talk with children about death, a dose of Dr. Tina’s wisdom may be just what you need.

This podcast is brought to you by the Charles Engelhard Foundation, and the National Parenting Education Network.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

The Fall of Freddy the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages

By: Leo Buscaglia

Death is Stupid

by Anastasia Higginbotham

Next Episode

Youth Sports: Opportunities, Benefits, & Advice for Parents

Youth Sports: Benefits, Opportunities, & Advice for Parents

In this action-packed episode, Dr. Sara gathers important insights about youth sports from a parent and two young athletes. Then, she treats Dr. John with contempt (not really) because he doesn’t understand the term “Capitalization” (that’s true), and later she has to put John in time-out because he gets all agitated and uses the words “pissed off” while just talking about soccer referees. More importantly, Sara and John share a variety of concrete tips for parents. . . and, if you listen to this episode, you’ll be able to answer the question: What do researchers say is the source of THE WORST memories for young athletes? Ready, set, LISTEN!

This podcast is brought to you by the Charles Engelhard Foundation, and the National Parenting Education Network.

Resources in this Podcast: Home Team Advantage: The Critical Role of Mothers in Youth Sports By: Brooke de Lench Changing the Game: The Parents Guide to Raising Happy, High Performing Athletes, and Giving Youth Sports Back to our Kids By: John O’Sullivan