The pain from loss is also related to the nature of the relationship. A child experiences the most distress when he is close to and dependent upon the one he is separated from. If the move or the separation takes the child away from the loved one, he may experience the same intensity of pain as if this were a death. Sometimes the teacher is the adult most aware of the child's pain. She sees the sadness, the lethargy, and the learning difficulties.
Loss affects a child's capacity to thrive in learning and social settings.
Underestimating the vulnerability of the grieving child actually prolongs the child's pain and increases the probability that the effects of the loss will persist. The Grieving Process Grief is a process that reshapes our inner world following loss. It involves a set of emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physical reactions that can vary depending upon the individual and the nature of the loss. In the weeks immediately following the loss, the child often experiences disturbing thoughts. Over time, the child's thoughts will be dominated by loss and feelings of sadness.