Learn why we need to do a better job recognizing and helping with the experience of grief for our children.
My guest Joe Primo is the CEO of Good Grief, an education and advocacy organization for grieving children. He is the author of the book What Do We Tell the Children: Talking to Kids About Death and Dying and in this interview discusses how the way we talk to children about death can shape their experience of grief throughout their lives. His insights are especially helpful as we approach the holiday season where grief tends to rise to the surface for all of us. Learn more about his work at this website:
This episode includes:
- What we are getting wrong in our approach to grief with children
- How grief can be good
- How addressing grief openly can help us address other issues in our society
- Teaching moments for talking about death with children
- Why cliches and euphemisms about death are not helpful
- Why teachers and other support people need to be educated about childhood grief
- Why grief should be revisited with children as they grow and develop over the years
- Tips for parents to teach children about death
- Hospice workers and medical personnel should educate themselves about talking to children about death
- Why attending a funeral can help establish continuing bonds
If you’re old enough to love, you’re old enough to grieve.
Joseph Primo – Good-Grief.org
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Good Grief Website
- Joe Primo’s Book: What Do We Tell the Children
- Book: The Invisible Tattoo: True Stories About Children Grieving, Living, and Loving After Loss
- Funeral Service Foundation website
- Video and ebook: Youth and Funerals
- Resource: Grief in Developmental Stages
- National Alliance for Grieving Children website
- Grief activity book for adults and children: When Someone Dies
- Join the team at Patreon.com/eolu and get access to the EOLU mug: “Mind if we talk about death?” (only Patrons can purchase it)
If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes! Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my newest Patrons: Sherrill Shimek, Linda Read, Elisabeth Cascada Rogolsky, Hilary Walker, and Joanna Brown; your contributions make all the difference!
