Children at the bedside: Preparing children for the death of someone close to them

Supporting children and youth who are experiencing the dying of someone close to them is a challenging experience across all disciplines, even for the most skilled professional. There is a growing body of research encouraging authenticity, honesty and inclusion of children experiencing a death. Yet too often children and youth remain excluded from the experience of illness, dying and death. Leading to a sense of alienation for the child and a missed opportunity for their growth and connection. In our intent of protecting, we often unintentionally unplug the child from relationships both prematurely and unnaturally.

Throughout this training, Andrea will use real-life and real-death narratives to identify practical strategies for supporting children and youth who are facing the impending death of someone in their lives.

Learning objectives:

• The roots of our societal discomfort with the topic of children and death
• Myths and misconceptions which create barriers to children being included at the bedside of someone who is dying
• Practical strategies and creative approaches for preparing children for a death, including a death through medical assistance in dying (MAID)
• Literary, web, and local resources for supporting children who are experiencing the dying of someone close to them

Please note: This webinar is module 1 of the Children’s grief and bereavement certificate program. However, participants can also register for it as a stand-alone training to enhance their skills in supporting grieving children and families.