Grief in Children

Amid the plethora of books on grief and children, these two books (Grief in Children and Grief in Young Children) ) in my view, essential reading... Both books are comprehensive, well referenced, and well written. Unlike some books that rely too heavily on personal anecdote, these make good use of brief vignettes to illustrate the text...Both books will be helpful to families, bereavement counsellors, and to a wide range of professionals involved in assessing and working with bereaved children and families. -- Children and Young People, Martin Newman Consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry Once again Dyregrov's simple style with clear descriptions, many words from bereaved children and a wealth of information, grounded in his professional work, make for a book that is rich in content and information. It is a pleasure to read, despite the sadness of the topic... Dyregrov has led the way in guiding us. I rate his second edition highly. For those trying to help the bereaved children, it is essential reading, the chapter on handling death in schools being particularly relevant to teachers. -- Pharos International Dyregrov's book is recommened for its solid grounding in psychology and its reasoned, jargon-free advice. An extremely valuable resource for parents as well as professionals who work with children. -- Library Journal Reviews This is an excellent book, aimed at anyone who has children. It is ideal for childminders, nannies, nursery workers, teachers and parents alike. It helps those either working with children or parents of children to think about the effects grief has on a child and helps us to understand how they are feeling and how to help them cope with the grief. The content of the book is excellent and it really makes you think about how children deal with grief in their own way. We as adults deal with grief differently from children and we do not necessarily understand the effect it has on children. It gives ideas on how to help children deal with grief, the signs we can look out for in children, their behaviour and attitudes if they are experiencing grief, and how we can help them to come to terms with their loss. I would also refer to it for my own children if need be. An excellent book. -- The National Child Minding Association First published in 1991, Atle Dyregov's Grief in Children: A Handbook for adults is a stock reference title on child bereavement practitioners' shelves, often recommended to parents and other children's professionals. This second edition, helpfully indexed, has been fully updated with many new vignettes drawn from extensive practice with children and young people in Norway and internationally illustrating their varying responses in grief and the support they have received. Children and parents can feel overwhelmed and disconcerted by their grief reactions and in themselves. these case examples can offer some reassurance that others have experienced similar things. -- Children and Society Author Atle Dyregrov's second edition of Grief in Children does what it says on the tin. His clear and intelligent writing helps the reader understand children's reactions to the death of someone special and offers ways of helping bereaved children manage the tragedy that they are faced with. When I first read Dyregrov as a trainee counsellor, and bereaved as a child myself, I found it was one of the most relevant and informative that texts available. It is simply a classic. The book remains important, outstanding and enriching for any of us who meet bereaved. -- Children & Young People Now

Dr Atle Dyregrov is a clinical psychologist and Director of the Center for Crisis Psychology in Bergen, Norway, which he founded with a colleague in 1988. He is a member of the executive board of The Children and War Foundation and a founding member of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Dr Dyregrov is the author of numerous publications, journal articles, and books.

Introduction.1. Children's Grief and Crisis Reaction. 2. Different Types of Death. 3. Death and Crisis at Different Developmental Levels. 4. What Makes the Grief Worse? 5. Sex Differences in Children's Grief. 6. Care for Children in Grief and Crisis. 7. Guidelines for Taking Care of Children's Needs. 8. Handling Death in the Play Group and at School. 9. Crisis- or Grief-Therapy for Children. 10. Bereavement Groups for Children. 11. Caring for Oneself. Appendix A: Grief in Children - Guidelines for Care. References. Internet Resources.