Parenting Resources for Children & Teens

It is not easy parenting children of different ages, and they can sometimes require very different approaches to the same emotions, so where appropriate we have broken this information down into age appropriate sections to help you know what questions might arise, what language to use and what feelings might be most common at the time.

Loss of a Loved One during a Pandemic

Losing a loved one is devastating enough as it is, however, mourning during a pandemic presents a new set of challenges. As a parent, this will be a particularly difficult time for you and your child(ren); however, there are ways to get through this time and you are not alone.

Parenting through a terminal illness

It is very difficult to speak to children about a loved one being diagnosed with a terminal illness. This booklet will give you some tips on how to approach it and how to best get them to a safer emotional space. Make sure to take some time for yourself to read it alone first and decide whether to do this on your own or with your loved one present if that’s appropriate.

Parenting after an immediate loss

The time immediately following the loss of your loved one is filled with a lot of different emotions. Knowing where to begin can be difficult, particularly if the death was unexpected. Use these tips to help you begin the conversation with your children leading up to the funeral and in the weeks after.

What to expect through the grieving process

In order to best support your child or teen, it is important to understand what to expect during the grieving process, and how to manage different grief reactions. Children and teens who have lost someone close to them will experience a range of feelings, thoughts, physical reactions, and behaviours associated with grief over the days, months, and years that follow the loss.

Parenting in the First 12 Months

The funeral is done, your friends have gone back to their lives, and you realise that this life is what remains. Everything is different but you don’t know how to manage those changes? This booklet aims to give you some thoughts on how to move forward and create a safe and eventually happy environment for you and your children.

Parenting through Anniversaries

Certain dates, such as the anniversary of the loss, the bereaved loved one’s birthday, or even holidays your child is used to sharing with their lost loved one may heighten your grief, as they are reminders of your loved one’s death. Here are some steps to help your child cope with reminders of the loss.

How to discuss loss by suicide

Grief is a normal response to losing someone important to us. When someone dies by suicide, those bereaved often experience a very complicated form of grief caused by a combination of sudden shock, unanswered questions of ‘Why?’ and feelings of ‘What could I have done?’.

Overcoming the isolation of grief

Grief can be an isolating experience for children and teens. As a parent, it is crucial to provide comfort for your child or teen, emphasising they will continue to be cared for and loved no matter what. Through the normalisation of grief, active communication, and various strategies, you can help your child navigate the loneliness of grief.

Bereaved adolescents and the transition to adulthood

The various challenges that may arise throughout the journey of transitioning to adulthood are often intensified for bereaved adolescents. Adolescence is a time of change, particularly in the realms of physical, psychological and social domains. These changes can create some real discomfort for adolescents in general, and without the support of a parent, navigating this time can be challenging.