Grief: How to Help Children Feel, Deal and Heal

Sometimes worse than dealing with your own aching pain at the loss of a loved one is seeing that pain reflected in a child's eyes. Dr. David Crenshaw, author of Bereavement: Counseling the Grieving Throughout the Life Cycle, and Phyllis L. Rubin, an elementary school teacher with 37 years of experience, offer advice to parents and other adults who are helping children deal with death. Dr. Crenshaw discusses the seven stages of grief, the different ways children of various ages grieve, understanding post-traumatic play, relieving guilt, using metaphors and stories, and helping children heal and find closure. Ms. Rubin counsels viewers on how classmates should welcome back a grieving friend to school, addresses grieving for pets, and discusses religious beliefs and funeral customs. The tape is comforting, but somber to watch (although any attempt at glitz and pizzazz would have been tasteless), and should be a real aid to adults reaching out to grieving children. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (E. Druda)