All of us suffer. In our walk through life, we face tragedy, destruction, devastation. We face loss and failed hopes and dreams and we ask ourselves, “What if?” What if we hadn’t taken that road, would our journey be easier or better? Are we to blame, or does the universe hate us? For most people, the worst thing to experience is the death of a loved one. As adults we question ourselves and ask, “Why are we here?” The complexities of death can overwhelm us as grown-ups. They can annihilate children and cause trauma that lasts a lifetime.
This class covers the process of grief and how it impacts children. We cannot discuss children without discussing adults as we explore the relationship between death and us. Topics such as how to help ourselves cope with death and how to help children cope with death will be explored by age groups. Information will be shared on how one might approach and support a child, perhaps a student, who has lost someone significant in their lives. We will discuss violence and its ever growing role in the lives of our children. The benefits of therapy dogs will be explored. We will also look at how our belief systems can help us through grief and what to say and not say to a grieving person.
- Teacher: Candice Benjamin