Praise for the author:
'Dyregrov's writing is clear in its description, and explicit in its
advice, and demonstrates that the daunting task of helping a child
through grief is both manageable and rewarding'
- Bereavement Care
'This insightful text will be of great help to all who care for
pre-school children - parents, kindergarten teachers, ministers of
religion, police, welfare workers - the list is endless. If they learn
the values reflected in this small book, then bereaved children
everywhere will grow up with far fewer hang-ups about the only certainty
in life.'
- from the foreword by Professor William Yule
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
children's 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.
