WK 6 Reflection

Grief in Children

Linda Dotson

Walden University

Introduction

Individuals respond and grief differently with respect to their stage of development. The reason is because each stage is associated with distinct characteristics that describe an individual this is in accordance with various theories that describe development of persons through various stages. As for children; infants, toddlers and Preschools; behaviour modification involves acquisition and accommodation of traits from both the environment, personal experiences and perceptions as well as mimicry. Therefore, various approaches have to be used in dealing with the grief of children in order to initiate optimal functionality and activity in them.

Erik Erickson’s Theory of Psychological Development

Erick believes that childhood is more important and personality is developed throughout the life of an individual. According to him, personality development occurs in eight stages with each stage presenting new challenges to an individual. The outcomes of the stage are dependent on the response as well as approach to the challenge. Erikson named the phases with respect to the possible outcomes. They included: trust and mistrust exhibited by infants, Autonomy, shame and Doubt associated with toddler skills and adaptation to life; initiative vs guilt manifests at the age of between three and six years with development of control of responses and adverse reactions. The theory is further supported by Piaget’s theory of cognitive development which is based on accommodation and modification of behaviours among children.

Approach to Grief in Children

Infants

An infant is a child who is still at an early stage of development. Infants do not verbalise their grief but show response to grief through a change in classical conditioning as they are brought up. This is mainly because they associate given activities, behaviours and reactions with a particular situation. As a childhood professional, one musts understand the behaviour of the child and the routine the infant is under. Therefore, response and advice is based on the routine. For instance, change in a routine may cause an infant to cry or become inactive since there is a sensation of absence of a particular individual. To curb the issue of grieving in Children, parents are advised to maintain the routine in attendance and provision of needs so that the infant does not sense any changes that may cause her to grief in response to the loss.

Toddlers

Toddlers are children aged between 12 months and 36 months old. they are characterised by active emotional responses. Caregivers usually affect toddlers through their grief. The primary indication through which the toddlers learn of grief is the actions of the caregiver. When the caregiver is inactive, gloomy and not attending to them as usual, the chill may respond through irritation, and inactivity. Some who may be crawling or walking may seize the act. Therefore, parents have to respond by avoidance of grieving before toddlers and exhibit normal behaviour when in contact with the toddlers. On the other hand, childhood professionals may intervene by taking the toddlers through a good grief programme that introduces the children to active plays and art so as to make them busy and divert their thoughts from grief.

Pre-schoolers

Pre-schoolers are aged between 3 and 6 years. Childhood professionals need to know that pre-schoolers have magical thoughts that are based on inaccurate conclusions. The act often results in fear, guilt, sleep disturbances and anxiety. Some of them may associate themselves with the incident as the primary causative agents of death. Therefore, the children must be subject to either counselling therapy or a related approach in order to eliminate the signs and symptoms ad thoughts of grief. For instance, parents are encouraged to positively encourage their children rather than disguise them. Furthermore, the pre-schoolers can be enrolled in a good grief and Beyond program that exposes them to active artwork, play and socialization with others. Honouring of the death programs together with members of the society during holidays and anniversaries also serves as a readily available remedy to grieving among the pre-schoolers.

References

Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American psychologist, 55(5), 469.

Bugge, K. E., Darbyshire, P., Røkholt, E. G., Haugstvedt, K. T. S., and Helseth, S. (2014). Young children's grief: Parents' understanding and coping. Death studies, 38(1), 36-43.

Schonfeld, D. J., Demaria, T., COUNCIL, D. P. A., and Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. (2016). Supporting the grieving child and family. Pediatrics, e20162147.