Most children know something about death. They might have seen it seen it on TV or read about it but it’s very different when it happens to someone close to them.

As parents we can’t take our child's pain away, but we can help them cope in healthy ways.

Children deal with grief in a different way than adults and can move quickly between needing comfort and cuddles to asking challenging and forthright questions. For parents and others supporting the child this can be difficult to manage, particularly if you are grieving yourself, but an honest and open approach will help them to process their anxiety and understand their feelings. The websites below have some good advice around talking to children who have been bereaved but grief is individual. It is important to remember that you know your child best and to trust your instincts.