How do you comfort your child after one of their friends dies?
by 
Ed the Jetpacking Headbanger
ANSWERS: 13
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That is a tough one. I guess it depends on your belief system and how old the child is. I would also address the fears of them not being next if the child is young. I'm glad that I believe in the after life because that sure helps a great deal when dealing with a child and death.
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That is a tough one. Sit beside them;put your am around them and listen and answer quietly. Perhaps tell them they have gone to play with the other angels. Sad!!
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Children these days know more about death and accept it as a fact of life as they see it quite often in TV shows. Often they do not need any comforting. They accept death as something natural, I have seen.
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Let them grieve but try to do more fun things with them so grieving doesn't turn into depression!
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Encourage them to talk about how they feel. Hold them and say you are sorry. Discuss then realities of death and how much it hurts. Share your experiences.
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Just tell the child that his parents sended your friend to a different state & he wont be back in a very long time.
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On Monday, a girl from around the corner had a snow tubing accident and died after she struck a tree. The school has grief counselors for the other kids in the middle school. These kids are finding some measure of comfort in thinking that God needed her as an angel. Personally, this would make me hate God. I am just glad I have cats and not kids.
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Although school counceling is wonderful, personal counceling outside of the school may be best. I wouldn't pressure your child to talk to you about it, but make sure he/ she is aware the door is open when and if they are ready to talk. ... Sometimes just knowing they have someone to talk to helps. On occasion you may want to ask ... " have you thought about (friend who passed) lately " ... leaving the door open to talk - but not forceing it. If your child doesn't respond by starting a full conversation, that's ok, he/she is again reminded you are there when needed.
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you can't do it alone. just listen and be mindful and respectful to what your child has to say about the situation. talk about it; tell your child your experience with death of loved ones in your life. don't make it sound too happy or too sad, just let it come out naturally. if age appropriate, allow your child the choice of attending the funeral. when i was 12, a friend of mine passed away tragically and my mother asked me to choose. i preferred not to go to the funeral and pay my respects privately to the family later. that was my choice and i'm glad i had an option. make sure your child is eating and sleeping. if your child chooses to sleep in all day and not talk to anyone, let them do it for a few days (if they do not have obligations such as work/school). ask your child what they want you to do. good luck.
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by diverting his mind in some other place and work
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Since you've commented that your daughter is an adult, the only thing you can do is to let her know that you are there for her. Let her know how much you love her. If any sense can be made from her friend's death, it should be that we always need to let our friends and family know how important they are to us. If we can show how much we care about our loved ones, no will ever die without knowing they were loved. May she find comfort in this time of sadness.
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Well , don't make a big deal out of it but listen to them, take walks with them and talk to them. They'll tell you what hurts and your job to explain to them that life will not always be fair to you. Take the good moments in life to appreciate those around you on such walks and gain a renewed respect for life. There is no right or wrong method, just ones that are more tactful then others.
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I am sorry for your daughter's loss Ed. Just listen to her everytime she wants to talk about her friend, even if she has told you the same story 40 times. Be the great daddy, I am sure you are.
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