Helping kids to overcome the phase of sadness due to pet loss is difficult period. To support kids when they are in pain due to the sudden death of pets is a responsibility of parents. When pet is at around, the loyalty and involvement in developing a close relationship with family and master is unforgettable. Therefore, their absence hurts a lot.
Every Now and then, they will look for the pet who was a companion. It is while sitting and watching television, or walking. During play time, they have always had good times, both indoor and outdoor. Impatiently waiting for them to greet sitting and looking at the door for the kids to come home is one of the warmth lost when the pet is gone.
Parents can be with their kids when they are new to any life loss. They may not be able to cope in the early stages, so parents can introduce it to them. It is possible when there is support, above all it enables one to deal with similar situations related to death in the future.
A child will learn to say goodbye which is essential to cope with the losses. It prepares them for the future and deals with emotional pain.
How to help kids cope with grief due to pet loss?
Kids need time to learn and understand the sudden loss of pet. They are unaware of the emotional feelings and consequences. But, parents and family can help them to cope with grief due to pet loss.
Talk to kids
The sudden absence of the pet from home can bring a feeling of emptiness. The most affected are the family members and the kids. Kids cannot cope with the loss, so they should talk about it. Small ones who can understand and feel the absence may wonder. Whether the furry friend will return or not, it is a difficult situation that they can realize the loss.
It is when the parents need to talk and explain about the pet loss. Explain then that the pet has gone forever and will not return. Waiting for them is of no use, so it is better to move on. They are no longer alive; it was the end of their journey with us. The beloved pet has moved on to a new world and we should say bye, gladly. So, that they do not feel sad while moving to their new journey into a new world. Once they realize that the pet will not return, the kids will slowly stop waiting or looking for them.
Listen to them
When kids speak and express their emotions, it is essential to listen to them. It is sometimes the feeling of grief that makes the kids stay silent and sad. There is a lack of happy smiles and warmth if the kids are not happy. Specifically, if they are unable to see their loving pet, worries and lack of presence together affect their emotions.
So, the parents can help by listening to them, talking to them can heal their sadness and avoid unwanted depression. Depression can be a result of loneliness or the absence of a close friend or companion. Missing a pet for a long period is not good for mental health, caring and healing words can enable the kids to cope and overcome the unwanted situations.
Create a Memorial
To give the kids a console realization, creating a memorial is always helpful. It can be a small structure at the rear of the house or the front, space depending on the choice of the kids is useful. It reminds them of their pet and the good and playful time spent with them. The memorial will give a sense of the presence life-long.
Watching the structure and celebrating their birth anniversary also enables us to keep them in memories and forget their grief of death. Often kids may show anger due to their denial to accept the death. It works at the early stage, but developing a structure, and a memorial will give them a way to accept slowly. Acceptance of the loss takes times for kids but less than, the adults as they are free-spirited beings with always a way to find reasons to be happy souls with effective support.
Rituals
One of the traditional forms of saying goodbye and giving honor to the pet is through rituals. Gathering family and friends are way to show support to the family members and the kids. The early stages of grief compromise guilt, denial, and anger a family undergoes at that circumstance.
It is an initiative to try different ways to let the denial process end and begin to look for healing processes. Divert the mind through rituals and then slowly return to regular life. Kids may find it difficult unless they move out.
Parents should stay along with kids till they feel comfortable. During the phase of emotional challenges expressing in the right way can be difficult. Parents and family can motivate them through the performance of rituals. An indication of allowing them to move forward by providing them honor and respect.
Support them when sad and stubborn
Sometimes angry, and sad, kids may be stubborn when they undergo the phase of grief. It is when the parents should support them, they should not overreact and avoid being rude to them. Kids may not sleep early; they may want to spend time sitting alone instead of playing with friends.
During the phase of grief, the parent’s support helps them to cope with the sudden life changes. They may need parents’ guidance also to understand and find ways to fight against the sad emotional feeling. It will enable us to embrace the sudden change and cope with any loss in the future.
Giving kids support enables them to cope with the anger, ignorance, and also a gap of losing a good companion. A pet can be a companion who played, stayed with them, being loyal to kids and another family master with selfless love.
Wrapping Up!
Another useful way to bring a smile to their face and drive away the shadows of sadness is by bringing home a new pet. It is not possible to forget the favorite and beloved pet, but it can at least give the same vibes in the house. Children slowly will be able to engage with the new pet member and carry out similar activities, reducing the feeling of emptiness to the earliest.
