As parents, we want to be able to help our children navigate the experience of losing a loved one, animal or human.
When we lose someone or something we love, our response is grief. Grief is difficult to handle because it is not one emotion but many–sadness, depression, bewilderment, despair, helplessness, loneliness, emptiness, meaninglessness, and probably guilt. All of these are common to grief. We experience them in varying degrees of intensity according to the importance of our loss, and we experience them in no particular order or pattern. Our best response as parents is to companion our children in their grief, be present, consistent and loving.
At these links you will find resources to help you to help your children to navigate grief and loss.
Talking to your child about death