Just like adults, children's grief can range from a minor reaction to feeling their world has shattered. This depends on factors such as their age and their relationship with the person who is ill or has died. In many other ways, however, their grief looks very different from that of adults. As a result, it’s often overlooked or misunderstood. 

This chapter looks at how children react to grief. While each child is unique, there are some common ways in which they feel and express their emotions.

Every child is unique 

Please keep in mind that there are no hard and fast rules about how children will or should grieve at a particular age. Your child may respond differently. For example, some young children don’t act out their grief but talk a great deal and ask many questions. There is no "normal" or "right" way for children to grieve.