Life and Loss: A Guide to Help Grieving Children

For decades, Life and Loss has been the book clinicians have relied on for a full and nuanced presentation of the many issues with which grieving children grapple, as well as an honest exploration of the interrelationship between unresolved grief, educational success, and responsible citizenry.　

This classic edition, which includes a new preface from the author, brings this exploration firmly into the twenty-first century and makes a convincing case that children’s grief is no longer restricted only to loss-identified children. Children’s grief is now endemic; it is global. Life and Loss is not just the book mental health professionals need to understand grief in the twenty-first century—it’s the book they need to work with grief in a practical and constructive way.

LIFE & LOSS: A Guide to Help Grieving Children

Many clinicians recognize that denying or ignoring grief issues in children leaves them feeling alone and that acknowledging loss is crucial part of a child’s healthy development. Really dealing with loss in productive ways, however, is sometimes easier said than done. For decades, Life and Loss has been the book clinicians have relied on for a full and nuanced presentation of the many issues with which grieving children grapple as well as an honest exploration of the interrelationship between unresolved grief, educational success, and responsible citizenry. The third edition of Life and Loss brings this exploration firmly into the twenty-first century and makes a convincing case that children’s grief is no longer restricted only to loss-identified children. Children’s grief is now endemic; it is global. Life and Loss is not just the book clinicians need to understand grief in the twenty-first century—it’s the book they need to work with it in constructive ways.

BREAKING THE SILENCE:
A Guide to helping children with complicated grief – Suicide, homicide, aids, violence, & abuse

The second edition of this bestselling book is designed for mental health professionals, educators, and the parent/caregiver, this book provides specific ideas and techniques to work with children in various areas of complicated grief. It presents words and methods to help initiate discussions of these delicate topics, as well as tools to help children understand and separate complicated grief into parts. These parts in turn can be grieved for and released one at a time.

A new chapter is included, called "Communities Grieve: Involvement with Children and Trauma." It includes information on The Taiwan Earthquake and how the community worked with children, a school bus accident in which 36 elementary school children witnessed the death of the bus driver that was driving and how the school system worked with these children and their families; a boy who was running on a cross country team and got hit by a car, which was witnessed by teammates; and how a non-profit community grief agency worked with family, school, and community. The last study is from the Oklahoma bombing and the outgrowth of a place for the traumatized children and how they still work with kids and family today. This chapter then contains new activities to work with traumatized grieving children.

The new edition also includes updated resources, books, curriculums, websites, hotlines and another new chapter on bullying and victimization issues. The chapter for educators has been expanded, including the coverage of topics such as at-risk students, gay and lesbian issues, and self-injurious behaviors.  

RAISING OUR CHILDREN TO BE RESILIENT

In this timely and much-needed book, Linda Goldman addresses the many frightening events that impact our children by providing the reader with a seamless mixture of theory and practice garnered from her extensive experience in the field. Raising Our Children to Be Resilient includes trauma resolution techniques and case studies, discussions of the respective roles played by parents, teachers and the larger community as well as additional resources for those in a position to help children who have been traumatized. The goal of Raising Our Children to Be Resilient is exactly what its title promises: to help children through their pain and confusion and guide them into a flexible and compassionate adulthood.

BART SPEAKS OUT

I have written this interactive story book, Bart Speaks Out, for young children. It is my way of giving a voice to the silence of the subject of suicide in today's world. Throughout my research and collection of children's resources on issues of grief and loss, suicide is the only subject where I could not find a child's storybook or workbook.

Counselors, therapists, educators, parents, and other caring professionals must explore the topic of suicide openly if we are to break through the barriers of shame and secrecy that accompany this topic, and create fertile ground for the resolution of this complicated grief situation.

It is normal for children to grieve the death of someone who is a significant person in their lives. Suicide, however, (and other complicated grief issues such as homicide, AIDS, violence, and abuse) creates a set of traumatic emotional issues that tend to separate the child from the normal flow of grief. So often a child can not say that their special person died because they would have to say how that person died. These unexpressed and unresolved life issues, these frozen blocks of time, create a wall of ice between the child and his or her grief and it is up to us as caring adults to help melt down that wall. Hopefully this book will serve as an effective tool to begin the meltdown process.

CHildREN ALSO GRIEVE

Children Also Grieve is an imaginative resource, fully illustrated with color photographs, that offers support and reassurance to children coming to terms with the loss of a close friend or relative and to adults who are supporting them through their bereavement. The first part of the book is designed to be read and worked through by children. The story tells of the experiences of Henry, the dog of a family whose grandfather has died. During Henry's progress through the different stages of bereavement, he learns strategies for coping with his grief. At various stages of the story, Goldman provides readers with the opportunity to share their own reactions to loss through words and pictures, using specific prompt questions that encourage the exploration of different facets of grief. The second part includes a list of useful vocabulary to help children express their feelings about bereavement, a bibliography of other useful resources for both children and adults, and a section that will help adults to understand and aid children throughout the grief process. This last section also explains the approach taken in the story, details typical responses to bereavement, and discusses useful ways in which adults can discuss and share grief with children. This book is an invaluable tool for bereaved children and those who care for them.

LUCY LETS GO

Lucy Lets Go is a resource that creates age appropriate dialogue for young children to discuss dying and death through an interactive storybook. Lucy is just a puppy when Tasha gets very sick. The family decides to have a celebration of her life, with lots of ideas of how children can participate. The story follows the bond between Tasha and Lucy, Tasha s dying and death, the grieving process for Lucy, and the rituals and memorialization Lucy shares. Including Lucy helped to make Tasha s death real. It helped her to eventually let go.

COMING OUT, COMING IN

Coming Out, Coming In: Nurturing the Well-Being and Inclusion of Gay Youth in Mainstream Society describes the process of “coming in” to a welcoming and nurturing family, from both the teen's and the parents' perspective. Linda Goldman draws on her personal and professional experience as a school guidance counselor, child and adolescent therapist, parent, and a member of the national group PFLAG to build a common language and a new paradigm for understanding sexual orientation and gender identity as a part of mainstream culture. Through the information, exercises, anecdotes, and extensive bibliography of additional resources provided in the book, parents, school administrators and educators, community groups and counselors will find the tools needed to facilitate nurturing and safe environments for our LGBT youth.

Great answers to difficult questions about death

Death is never an easy subject for discussion and adults often struggle to find the right words when talking about it with children. This book explores children's thoughts and feelings on the subject of death and provides parents and other caring adults with guidance on how to respond to difficult questions. The author explores some of the most common questions children ask about death and provides sensitive yet candid answers, phrased in a way that children will be able to understand and relate to. Each chapter is devoted to a particular issue, such as religious beliefs, coming to terms with terminal illness, and the fear of forgetting someone when they are gone. The book recognizes the emotions and reactions of children and family members and includes separate conclusions for parents and children. This guide offers useful advice for parents and carers and will also be of interest to counsellors and other professionals working with children.

GREAT ANSWERS TO DIFFICULT QUESTIONS ABOUT SEX

What does sex mean? Where do babies come from? Why is my body changing? Sex is never an easy subject for discussion and adults often struggle to find the right words when talking about it with children. This book explores children's thoughts and feelings on the subject of sex and provides parents and other caring adults with guidance on how to respond to difficult questions. 

The author explores some of the most common questions children ask about sex and provides sensitive yet candid answers, phrased in a way that children will be able to understand and relate to. Each chapter is devoted to a particular issue, such as how babies are made, relationships, and the differences between boys and girls. The book recognizes the emotions and reactions of children and family members and includes separate conclusions for adults and children. 

This guide offers useful advice for parents and carers and will also be of interest to counsellors and other professionals working with children.

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