Talking to Children About Grief and Loss

Sarah Ticich serves as the Bereavement Facilitator at Hospice of the Calumet Area, where she coordinates the Healing Hearts program for adults, teens, and children. Through her compassionate guidance, Sarah helps families find comfort, connection, and hope as they navigate the journey of grief.

💛 One of the hardest conversations any parent, teacher, bereavement social worker or caregiver can have is helping a child understand death. Children grieve differently than adults, and their questions often come from a place of innocence, confusion, and love.

At Hospice of the Calumet Area, we believe healing begins with honest, age-appropriate conversations that help children feel seen, heard, and supported.

I’m honored to share an insightful article by Dr. Alan Wolfelt, a nationally respected author, educator, and director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition. Dr. Wolfelt has written many thoughtful pieces on helping children navigate grief and loss with understanding and love.

His latest article offers guidance, tools, and gentle approaches for talking to grieving children about death focusing on helping them process their emotions while reminding them that they are never alone in their grief.

If you know a child who is struggling, please share this resource or reach out to us at 219.922.2732. At Hospice of the Calumet Area, we offer our Healing Hearts program for children, teens, and adults because we understand how essential support and compassion are on the path to healing.

Sarah Ticich is the Bereavement Facilitator at Hospice of the Calumet Area. The opinions expressed are her own.