If a child is old enough to reason, he is old enough to sense when he is being left out of an important discussion about a subject that should actually be spoken about in his presence. When my grandchildren lost their beloved dog, it mattered to them a great deal. They’d developed a strong attachment to this animal as he was both their playmate and their protector. They grieved and needed guidance and support on how to deal with their loss. They needed to mourn and to talk about their pet. They were young and knew little about death. I am not sure whether the youngest comprehended the permanence of it all. Their parents spoke to them a whole lot about their dog and when they went to bed that night, their father buried him in the garden. Next morning, he took them to the burial site and each of…
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Loss, Grief, Bereavement and Life Transitions Resource Library 