Children’s Grief Education Association Provides Needed Nurturing for Children and Adults

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Loss and grief occur at every stage of life — as early as a child leaving the safety and warmth of the mother’s body. Loss of positive mirroring and attention, loss of the good graces of others, loss of one’s own self-regard, loss of physical objects, loss of good ideas, loss of perfect moments and loss of life are all inevitable parts of the human journey — as much for children as adults.

When someone who had a positive impact on a child’s life dies, the child feels the loss of that person’s wisdom, warmth, attention and affection as deeply as an adult. Because of this, it is important to educate yourself on how to help children cope with the process of integrating death into their lives in a way that will help them thrive and bring their gifts into the world.

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The Children’s Grief Education Association is a U.S.-based organization founded and run by Board Certified Chaplain Don R. Lyles, M. Div., BCC, and Mary M. Lyles PhD., LCSW. The CGEA was launched as a non-profit in 2004 and continues to be a free online resource to help parents, caregivers, and professionals help children navigate the grief journey both in the United States and abroad. It covers topics such as what to say to a grieving child; how to incorporate a child in a funeral service; anticipatory grief; children’s grief responses; and how to inform a child of a death. The site also includes resources to navigate the impact of suicide and terrorism, as well as student and staff deaths in an educational setting.

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If you have a grieving child in your care, be sure to take a look through the CGEA’s bibliography for age-appropriate books on dying and grieving for children, adults, and professionals. Books are an excellent way of talking about tender topics through a relatable yet slightly removed lens, helping the child think about their own situation without getting overwhelmed in the process.

On a related note, this Huff Post article by Karen M. Wyatt, M.D. is an excellent place to start thinking about sharing grief education in a post-secondary setting. If you have a master’s or doctoral degree and a significant personal or professional background in the dying and grieving process, Wyatt suggests teaching at your local community college.