Drs. Elena Lister & Michael Schwartzman on Conversations with Children About Illness, Death, & Loss
I had such a great discussion with Dr. Elena Lister and Dr. Michael Schwartzman for this episode. I’m going to keep this brief and make just one suggestion: If you’re a widowed parent, buy this book. If you know a widowed parent, buy it for them. Seriously. The stuff the authors cover is exactly the sort of stuff I was wondering about when my husband, Dennis, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and my kids were 9 & 11. If you don’t know what to say to your kids about death and grief—and let’s be honest, who does?—then do yourself a favor and read Giving Hope: Conversations with Children About Illness, Death, and Loss.
Summary of Key Points:
Importance of Open Communication: Drs. Lister and Schwartzman emphasize the importance of having open and honest conversations with children about illness, death, and loss, advocating for age-appropriate transparency.
Understanding Grief in Children: They discuss how children process grief differently at various developmental stages and the importance of recognizing these differences to support them effectively.
Role of Caregivers and Parents: The guests highlight the critical role caregivers play in providing stability and understanding, suggesting practical ways parents can support their children through difficult conversations about death.
Resources and Tools: They provide insights into resources and tools that can aid in these conversations, including books, therapeutic activities, and professional support options.
Encouraging Emotional Expression: The conversation covers methods to encourage children to express their emotions related to grief and loss, including art and storytelling, as a way to help them cope.
Long-term Impact of Grief: There is a discussion about the long-term impact of grief on children and the importance of ongoing support and reassessment of their needs as they grow.
Links & resources for this episode
Giving Hope: Conversations with Children About Illness, Death, and Loss, by Dr. Elena Lister and Dr. Michael Schwartzman
Dr. Elena Lister’s website
Dr. Michael Schwartzman’s website
9 tips for handling grief with kids during the holiday season (Washington Post)
More links for listeners
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