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Sadly missed

When adults are preoccupied with their own grief, a bereaved child's carer may be the only one who can give them special attention, says Dr Richard Woolfson Statistics show that in the UK approximately 500 fathers and more than 100 mothers die every year, leaving grief-stricken young children behind them. And there are other bereavements that affect young children, such as the death of a grand-parent, sibling or close friend. A nursery-aged child might even be upset by the unexpected demise of her own domestic pet.

Statistics show that in the UK approximately 500 fathers and more than 100 mothers die every year, leaving grief-stricken young children behind them. And there are other bereavements that affect young children, such as the death of a grand-parent, sibling or close friend. A nursery-aged child might even be upset by the unexpected demise of her own domestic pet.

Unfortunately, learning to cope with bereavement is often part of childhood. There is no justification for adopting the mistaken view that children are too young to grieve. Such a perspective is based on a lack of understanding of a child's emotional development. A child from the age of two or three years onwards will be aware of bereavement, and will have the full range of emotions normally associated with grief for the loss of a loved one.

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