One in 5 children will experience the death of a loved one before age 18. Consuelo Cagande, MD, Division Chief, Community Care and Wellness Program, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, reviews the difference between grief and mourning; how children may grieve differently and the William Worden stages, which may be more applicable than the Kubler-Ross model; “masked” somatic and behavioral symptoms that may indicate grief; suggestions for how to help a child experiencing grief; how children of different ages may grieve; the importance of asking the family about their cultural norms for grieving; distinguishing between PTSD and grief; COVID and grief; resources to direct families to; and more. Published November 2021.
