TOLEDO, Ohio-Dr. Andrea Mata of BrightSpot Families advises waiting for children to initiate conversations about difficult topics like grief and providing answers that meet them at their level of understanding.
She emphasizes the importance of actively listening to children’s questions and validating their feelings without over-explaining. Parents should avoid sweeping such discussions under the rug and encourage open dialogue to prevent avoidance behavior in the future. Additionally, she suggests informing children about other trusted adults they can turn to for support and information.
