Bereaved of a grandparent

The death of someone a child loves is always painful, but grieving is a normal process

• • The death of a grandparent may be the child’s first experience of a death in the family;
  • The child’s reaction to the death will be affected by the closeness of their relationship with the grandparent;
  • Many grandparents play a huge part in a child’s life and support parents in the care of the child;
  • The whole family is likely to need to re-define itself and one of the child’s parents will be grieving for their parent.

Ways to support a child when a grandparent dies

For some children the death of a grandparent will be their first bereavement of someone close to them.  Adults can help children manage their grief by:

• • Explaining what has happened in language the child can understanding;
  • Answering their questions and reassuring them that they can keep asking questions;
  • Explaining what will happen at the funeral
  • Providing them with the opportunity to say ‘goodbye’
  • Helping them maintain continuing bonds with their grandparent by sharing memories
  • Letting children know that feeling sad is normal when someone has died and that adults feel sad too;
  • Finding ways to help them to express their feelings;
  • Acknowledging their anxieties;
  • Keeping open lines of communication between home and school.

Books you may find helpful

For other book recommendations, please take a look at our booklist.