When a death is sudden and unexpected, children aren’t prepared for the death. They:

• Must make sense of a lot of new information while grieving and possibly in shock as well.  
  • Learn more about how your children will react in Module 2 Your Unique Child. 

• Lose the opportunity to say goodbye or share other special messages.

• May have unresolved issues with the person who has died. For example:
• They argued the last time they were together, and didn’t have a chance to make-up. 

• May start to experience the world as a less safe place and worry that another sudden tragedy could happen at any time. 
• Learn more in Module 2 Your child's reactions and Module 1 Signs of grief. 

• May experience trauma around the death and how it occurred.
  • Learn more in Chapter 6 Is more help Is needed?

• May experience significant family stress, transitions and secondary losses such as loss of income and moving to a new home or community.

• May face the involvement of the criminal justice system and the media.
  • Learn more in this chapter. 
    

• May have to deal with the curiosity of friends, community and media.
  • Learn more in this chapter. 

• Depending on the nature of the death, may feel stigma, shame and lack of support from community, family and school.
  • Learn more in this chapter and in Chapter 5 When death is from suicide. 

The 4 Cs

Whether a death is expected or unexpected, children worry about the 4 Cs.