Ways a grieving child may behave

The following are some of the behaviors grieving children may exhibit: •Infant to age 2: Asking repeatedly for the deceased, regressing to younger behaviors, becoming uninterested in toys or food, changing eating, sleeping and elimination habits. •Age 2 to 6: In addition to a few of the above, they can wonder if the deceased left out of anger, believe they caused the death, play games about the deceased or death and its symbols. •Age 7 to 11: Feel embarrassed, guilty or hide their feelings, worry about their own or another's death, copy the deceased's behaviors, withdraw, act overly grown up, think or talk about joining the deceased. Sources: Helping Children Cope with Death, The Dougy Center; Preparing the Children, Kathy Nussbaum; Cross Country Seminars, Darcie D. Sims - Compiled by Camarillo Hospice