A lot of kids feel the happiest whenever they get to have their own pet for the first time. For most of them, pets are more than just animals. Most children treat their pets like their own best friends or even family members. Sadly, the happiness that pets bring to people, especially kids, can overlap with the devastating heartbreak of losing one. Regardless of the cause of death, losing a pet and sending them to Clayton, MO pet cremation sites can be hard to comprehend and understand at a young age. A lot of parents find themselves clueless about what to do to ease the grief and sadness of their child after losing a pet. Here are some of the things you can do as parents to help your child cope with the loss of their beloved pet.
Help Them Understand Death or Loss Through Effective Communication
One of the best things you can do to ease the pain of your child after losing their pet is to maintain open communication with them about the incident. You do not need to have a grand explanation using fancy words when explaining to your child. Remember to keep your explanations precise and use simple words that are appropriate for their age to understand. Effective communication does not have to involve sugarcoating the truth through euphemisms. Avoid using such things as it can cause confusion rather than a proper understanding of the concept of death.
Allow Them to Express Their Grief
Never ever dictate how your child should feel and act after losing their pet. Some parents have the tendency to stop their children from crying, which could only lead to the invalidation of feelings and emotions. Let your child express their feelings and emotions in a safe manner. Do not force them to talk about what they feel if they are not comfortable doing so. Instead of telling them to stop crying, give them a reminder that it is okay to feel sad and cry your emotions out. In this way, they would feel validated, and that grief is a relevant response to such situations.
Memorialize Their Departed Pet
Even among adults, being able to say goodbye and celebrate the life of a departed loved one after their passing help in arriving at the closure you need to move on. Once the pet of your child dies, allow them to memorialize their pet the way they want. Provide them with the options of the things you can do, but let them decide on their own. Be supportive of their coping mechanisms, such as gathering photos of their pet. Some children may even write a letter to their departed pet, and try your best to be as supportive as you can.
Like adults, children have their own grieving process and time to recuperate from the loss. The best thing you can do is assure them you are there for them throughout the whole process. With regard to memorialization, you can offer your child the choice of whether they want their pets buried or cremated in Clayton, MO pet cremation areas. Be supportive of their choice to avoid making them feel like their feelings are not valid.
