How to Talk to Kids About Death and Grief
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How to Talk to Kids About Death and Grief
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About this listen
How do I talk to my child about death and grief—without making things worse or shutting down their feelings? In this episode, Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with Katie Peinovich, LCSW, to share compassionate, practical guidance for supporting kids through loss. Drawing on years of experience working with children in New York City schools who’ve faced trauma, Katie explains why it’s important to be direct, validate emotions, and model coping—even when you’re grieving too.
Key topics include:
• Why kids need clear, honest language (and why euphemisms don’t help)
• What grief looks like in children—and why it often comes in waves
• How to sit with a child’s feelings without trying to “fix” them
• When to worry that grief may be interfering with daily life
• Scripts for answering tough questions like “What is death?”
• Whether children should attend funerals or memorial services—and how to prepare them
• Creative ways kids can remember loved ones, from memory boxes to rituals
• Why it’s okay for kids to see parents grieve, as long as they feel safe and loved
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- The Importance of Self-Care for Parents
- Talking to Kids About Death and Grief
- Positive Parenting: Talking About Difficult Topics