It is a common misconception that pre-school children are not capable of experiencing grief in the same way that older children do. Grief in Young Children challenges this assumption, demonstrating that although young children may not express grief in the same way as older children, they still need to be supported through loss.
Illustrated throughout with case examples, the author explores young childrens reactions to death and loss, both immediately after the event and over time. For example, young children may engage in `magic thinking, believing that wishing that someone were dead can actually cause death, which leads to feelings of guilt. Full of practical advice on issues such as how to keep children in touch with their memories, answer their questions, allay their fears and explore their feelings through play, this accessible book enables adults to work with children to develop an acceptance of grief and an understanding of death and loss.
This book is essential reading for parents, carers, counsellors and teachers, and is complemented by the companion volume Grief in Children: A Handbook for Adults, Second Edition, which caters for school-age children, also written by Atle Dyregrov and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Dr Atle Dyregrov is a clinical psychologist and Director of the Center for Crisis Psychology in Bergen, Norway, which he founded with a colleague in 1988. He is a member of the executive board of The Children and War Foundation and a founding member of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Dr Dyregrov is the author of numerous publications, journal articles, and books.
1. What Is Grief?
2. What Can Be Done to Help Children Who Have Suffereda Loss?
3. Childrens Participation in Rituals.
4. How Do Children Process What Has Happened Over Time?
5. Supporting Children Over Time.
6. Advice to Parents.
7. Specific Advice.
8. Conclusion.
Resources.
Bibliography.
Index
Amid the plethora of books on grief and children, these two books (Grief in Children and Grief in Young Children) ) in my view, essential reading... Both books are comprehensive, well referenced, and well written. Unlike some books that rely too heavily on personal anecdote, these make good use of brief vignettes to illustrate the text... Both books will be helpful to families, bereavement counsellors, and to a wide range of professionals involved in assessing and working with bereaved children and families.
- Children and Young People, Martin Newman Consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry
This book is about grief in pre-school children, written by Norwegian psychologist Atle Dyregrov. It covers all the questions that might come up for parents, family or kindergarten techers. The advice given and the reasons for it are clear. It is enhanced by the liberal use of clinical anecdotes, useful for any adult helping a yound child with grief and loss.
- International association for Hospice and Palliative Care Newsletter
If you are an adult - counsellor or not - working with children of any age and can read only one book, make sure it is one of these two. Grief in young children is specifically about children from birth to school age. Grief in children covers all ages of children including some information about adolescents.
Both books are written in easy-to-understand language, yet backed by the authors years of clinical experience of working with bereaved children and their families in a variety of places and circumstances. Up-to-date research is interwoven into the text with numerous references for further reading. The many vignettes that share childrens own personal experiences and confusions bring a poignancy to the writing... Each book can be read in a short sitting, or used as a quick resource on particular topics. Dyregrovs thorough understanding of the key issues affecting grieving children is clearly reflected in his writing like no other author I have read. I highly recommend both books.
- Counselling Children and Young People
This accessible book makes a rewarding read for all those involved in working with children. The chapters provided calm steps-by-step advice. Each statement is explained using psychological explanations of child development. Case studies and regular examples help illustrate the advice in practice. I would certainly refer to it in the future and recommend it to those who may need it. At only 90 pages long it is a handy, comforting and inspiring read.
