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How Children Express Sadness

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Children express emotions in a range of ways, and they may not always seem like appropriate reactions. Being scolded might turn a child into a wailing, hysterical mess, but the death of a close family member might be met with stoicism.

This is because children model their behavior after what they see adults doing. It's important, especially during a life-changing or catastrophic event, to allow children to see your emotions. That goes for deaths, divorce, natural disasters or even national tragedies. It's helpful to tell children what to anticipate if you know, for example, that a family member is terminally ill. Explaining that Grandpa is very sick, isn't getting better and may die soon can help better prepare children for when that death occurs. When it does, explaining what happens to people's bodies and death's permanence can help children understand. Use your faith as a guide to explaining the afterlife. And allow children to see your own emotions.