Help children cry during the holidays

Contributed by:
Laura Sollenberger, pediatric supervisor for support for support care – OSF Saint Francis

Adults play an important role in helping children cry, especially during the holidays when new emotions and memories can fully strike force. Children often find it difficult to express their emotions and they may not be opened on their own sorrow.

Here are tips that a parent or another adult can use to help mourning children during the holidays.

1. Talk about the child’s grief
   Talk with them about their beloved. Be precise with good memories. Let the children share their feelings and their stories. Keep the communication lines open by spending a time head-to-head with a mourning child.
2. To be tolerant of the child’s physical and psychological limits
   Facing feelings of loss can cause fatigue. Respect the body signal that it is time to slow down a little and rest.
3. Eliminate unnecessary stress
   Do not extend the child. The release of this “keeping busy” does not distract the child from sorrow and could actually increase stress.
4. Be with solidarity and comforting people
   Identify friends and parents who understand that the holiday season can be stressful. Find these people who encourage the child to be themselves and accept the feelings of the child – both happy and sad.
5. Plan in advance for family gatherings
   Decide family traditions you want to continue and what news you want to start. Structure your vacation. Leave room to modify the plans if you judge appropriate.
6. Kiss your treasure of memories
   Memories are one of the best inheritances that exist after the death of someone loved. Encourage your child to share memories with your family and friends.

Last update: February 11, 2022