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Raising Grieving Children

How children can survive the death of a loved one.

Friends
Invisible Mourners

Phyllis R. Silverman Ph.D. on April 16, 2013

There are many mourners when a family member or a friend dies If they are not part of the immediate family they often do not receive the attention they need. I call them "invisible mourners". We need to recognize the changes in their lives and help them deal with these as well as with their feelings not only immediately after the death but over time as well.

There are many mourners when a family member or a friend dies If they are not part of the immediate family they often do not receive the attention they need. I call them "invisible mourners". We need to recognize the changes in their lives and help them deal with these as well as with their feelings not only immediately after the death but over time as well.

Grief
Helping a Community Understand the Complexity of Grief

Phyllis R. Silverman Ph.D. on February 2, 2013

Grief is not an illness. Mourners have emotional reactions to the death of someone close to them. In additon they need to understand how the death changes their lives and learn to deal with these changes. Mourners need the support of friends, family and others in their community. To help we all need to see grief as a life cycle event. We need to educate our community.

Grief is not an illness. Mourners have emotional reactions to the death of someone close to them. In additon they need to understand how the death changes their lives and learn to deal with these changes. Mourners need the support of friends, family and others in their community. To help we all need to see grief as a life cycle event. We need to educate our community.

Grief
Learning a Language For Grief

Phyllis R. Silverman Ph.D. on January 17, 2013

There is a need to develop a new normal in a school that is grieving. Children need to learn a vocabulary for what they are feeling and help each other understand that there is no straight line as they cope.

There is a need to develop a new normal in a school that is grieving. Children need to learn a vocabulary for what they are feeling and help each other understand that there is no straight line as they cope.

Grief
Newtown: Not Just a List of Names

Phyllis R. Silverman Ph.D. on December 22, 2012

Relationship to the deceased makes a difference in how various mourners respond. Each group deals differently. Where a member was killed, families grief is more intense and extended over time.. Help is important but more important over time There is no quick healing as they deal with their own pain, their other children's pain and the unreality of what has happened

Relationship to the deceased makes a difference in how various mourners respond. Each group deals differently. Where a member was killed, families grief is more intense and extended over time.. Help is important but more important over time There is no quick healing as they deal with their own pain, their other children's pain and the unreality of what has happened

Grief
Keeping a Diary

Phyllis R. Silverman Ph.D. on December 15, 2012

Having children write down what they remember about the deceased and sharing it in regular family meetings is one way of following these changes and helping children understand that what they are experiencing is appropriate.

Having children write down what they remember about the deceased and sharing it in regular family meetings is one way of following these changes and helping children understand that what they are experiencing is appropriate.

Grief
When Grandpa Is Dying

Phyllis R. Silverman Ph.D. on October 11, 2012

Educating parents to communicate with children when a family member is dying.

Educating parents to communicate with children when a family member is dying.

Cognition
Father's Day Is Coming

Phyllis R. Silverman Ph.D. on October 11, 2012

Mother's Day and Father's Day are days that can cause great difficulty for school age children one of whose parents has died.

Mother's Day and Father's Day are days that can cause great difficulty for school age children one of whose parents has died.

Grief
When Teachers Face Grief in the Classroom

Phyllis R. Silverman Ph.D. on May 10, 2012

I saw an interesting movie yesterday, Monsieur Lazhar. This is a French Canadian film about how an elementary school, the students and their parents face the death of a teacher.

I saw an interesting movie yesterday, Monsieur Lazhar. This is a French Canadian film about how an elementary school, the students and their parents face the death of a teacher.

Grief
Writing a Blog Again

Phyllis R. Silverman Ph.D. on January 20, 2012

As I talk about what I have learned from others I have begun to appreciate what I learn from my own experience and my own stories. This is my story.

As I talk about what I have learned from others I have begun to appreciate what I learn from my own experience and my own stories. This is my story.

Grief
Men Who Grieve

Phyllis R. Silverman Ph.D. on September 5, 2011

It was with some excitement that I read the article on men and grief in the July 25th edition of the New York Times. It mentioned Widower: When Men Are Left Alone, which I had written with Scott Campbell, a text that is now 20 years old and still very relevant.

It was with some excitement that I read the article on men and grief in the July 25th edition of the New York Times. It mentioned Widower: When Men Are Left Alone, which I had written with Scott Campbell, a text that is now 20 years old and still very relevant.