Supporting bereaved primary age children

Children at this age develop an understanding that people can’t come back once they have died.

Younger children may show ‘magical thinking’ and feel they are in some way to blame for the person’s death.

They may develop a fascination with death and want lots of details – death is spooky and scary.

They may have strong feelings of loss but struggle to express this in words. They will need help in finding words and may show their grief through their behaviour – anything from withdrawal to anger and aggression.

They have a real sense of feeling ‘different’ from their friends and this can lead them to feeling quite isolated.