Other changes include an inability or unwillingness to socialize, continued denial of the death, feeling responsible for the death, or a long-lasting decline in school performance. Children may need special help if they had a difficult relationship with the person before the death, if there was confusion or misinformation surrounding the death or if verification of the death was delayed. Books are an excellent tool to help children become aware of and talk about their feelings concerning the death of a loved one. As you read to the child, ask questions. The responses often will give you clues about how the child thinks and feels, allowing you the opportunity to correct misunderstandings and suggesting what kind of emotional support to give.
Children identify with the characters in books.
Learning that the characters have feelings similar to theirs helps the healing process. A little girl learns about death from her grandfather. When he dies, she learns about mourning and how to go on living. Susan Varley Badger's friends are sad when he dies, but they treasure the legacies he left them. They find positive ways to remember her.