help kids deal with pet loss | Grieving, coping and Recovering
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Why Do i create this Lense?
I created this lense because recently my niece lost a pet to an unknown and sudden reason. My niece and that dog bonded together and the only person that the dog follow is my niece, the friendship between them is very intact in a way that when that dog die my niece show some unusual signs of loneliness and grieving.
I research here in the internet and unable to find topics related in helping kids cope with such situations. It lead me to go in different libraries and ask a psychologist friend on how to help the kids to deal with pet loss.
This is also created for parents not to ignore some signs of grieving during a pet loss.
I research here in the internet and unable to find topics related in helping kids cope with such situations. It lead me to go in different libraries and ask a psychologist friend on how to help the kids to deal with pet loss.
This is also created for parents not to ignore some signs of grieving during a pet loss.
When Kids are involved
Pets fulfill something on our lives, they serve as a stress reliever and pain remover, when human-pet-relationship is very intact its kinda devastating when that pet die.
When kids lost a pet it must be kept in mind that special considerations must take place.
When adults lost a pet they grieve what more the kids?
Yes, it is not easy to make kids recover from those emotional breakdown but there are also ways to help them.
Dealing with Euthanasia
Also known as "Mercy killing" , Euthanasia is putting death by means of injections to seriously ill pets. Some people say that this is "putting pets to sleep."
This is another situation that is veryy hard to explain why we have to put pets to euthanasia.
In every situation, it is best to become honest but delivery is the key. For kids with ages below five, it is best to help them understand that their pet will not be back anymore or "your pet is in heaven now."
This is another situation that is veryy hard to explain why we have to put pets to euthanasia.In every situation, it is best to become honest but delivery is the key. For kids with ages below five, it is best to help them understand that their pet will not be back anymore or "your pet is in heaven now."
According to some psychologist it is best not to let those kids witness the actual mercy killing and letting them watch it will never help them to survive the loss of a pet.
Marley and me
Starring Owen Wilson(John) and Jennifer Aniston(Jenny). John and Jenny were newlyweds, they adopt a dog named "Marley", to which John believe will serve as a training grounds for them. As their family grows Marley grow with them, but good thing can't never be forever, Marley suffer from a serious disease which lead to John into Euthanasia. Though its hard for the kids, John and Jenny helped them in dealing with the loss of Marley.
Help Kids cope with a sudden Pet Loss
Children may take longer to recover from such loss than adults.There are also instances that children will show signs of depression, not interested in their usual activities, not socializing, not playing and sometimes sleep talking or having nightmares.
For a situation like a pet is fatally sick, or the pet is found dead, the safest way to let them cope about it is assuring them that the pet is no longer in pain and death to pets is a law of nature but again delivery is the key.
Because of the tight bond some of the kids will become sentiment after the death, some will keep their collars, some will keep their pet's photos and some of the kids will cry at night. These situations are perceive as normal, but as a supervising adult, you must help them cope and forget about that event.
"Its just a Dog" "We'll buy One Tomorrow"
Those were the quotes that we adults usually say. Am right? But its not right!
Despite of your busy schedules, you must help them to cope with such, belittling the emotions on pet loss can sometimes lead to serious psychological issues.
"Amika in example, a 7 year old kid is used in playing with Kiva, a 6 month-old Labrador retriever, suddenly the dog died because of unknown reason, the kid was so upset that she even cry every night . "We'll just buy you another one tomorrow" said the father " But Kiva is different, she is my best friend, no one can replace her!"
.....See? It didn't help."
Making the kids busy like letting them to bake cookies for snacks, if you have budget buying playing gadgets and going out with them will help them to recover from a pet loss.
Giving memorial rites can also help them; this will give them the idea that they cannot own a pet forever and will help them understand that death in inevitable.
Despite of your busy schedules, you must help them to cope with such, belittling the emotions on pet loss can sometimes lead to serious psychological issues.
"Amika in example, a 7 year old kid is used in playing with Kiva, a 6 month-old Labrador retriever, suddenly the dog died because of unknown reason, the kid was so upset that she even cry every night . "We'll just buy you another one tomorrow" said the father " But Kiva is different, she is my best friend, no one can replace her!".....See? It didn't help."
Making the kids busy like letting them to bake cookies for snacks, if you have budget buying playing gadgets and going out with them will help them to recover from a pet loss.
Giving memorial rites can also help them; this will give them the idea that they cannot own a pet forever and will help them understand that death in inevitable.
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Make Them Recover first before buying another One
If you intend to buy your kids another dog make sure that they are recovered from the trauma, understand that pets can't live forever and death is inevitable law of nature.Buying pets that can give resemblance to their deceased pet can just make them compare the two and will just bring back old memories and can make your kids upset.
Buying another pet when kid's are still grieving can lead to mistreating the new one.
Remember no two living creatures are alike.
Know what Does Kids Feel According to Age
According to a Psychologist the way kids understand situation is according to their age:
Kids Under 2: These kids can only can feel the death of a pet but its only based on the emotions around him/her. A child a this age can know the difference between loneliness and happiness based on the environment's aura.
When you have a pet and it dies, the best way to do if you have kids below 2 is to hide the emotions.
Kids ages 2-5: These kids are treating animals as playmate but not as a love object, when it dies they will miss the playtime but will not become lonely. The perceive death as temporary only and they know that their playmate will be going back.
When the pet of your child dies, just keep them busy or buy another one. They will not notice it.
Kid ages 5 to 9: this is the time that kids in these ages are starting to think analytically, they can perceive the pet loss as law of nature and permanent, they know that their pet is not going back anymore. When a pet dies mostly of the kids in these ages always feel guilty and unable to forget such instances.
When a pet dies, it is best to tell the kid that the pet is in heaven and its not his/her fault. Making them understand that they can't own a pet forever can help.
Kids ages 10 and up: This is the time that they generally understand what is the concept of death but this is also the time that kids are having a hard time to recover from a pet loss. They may also go through the stages of grief: denial,bargaining,anger,guilt,depression and acceptance.
Understanding the stages of grief can give you a guide to help them in recovering.
When you have a pet and it dies, the best way to do if you have kids below 2 is to hide the emotions.
Kids ages 2-5: These kids are treating animals as playmate but not as a love object, when it dies they will miss the playtime but will not become lonely. The perceive death as temporary only and they know that their playmate will be going back.
When the pet of your child dies, just keep them busy or buy another one. They will not notice it.
Kid ages 5 to 9: this is the time that kids in these ages are starting to think analytically, they can perceive the pet loss as law of nature and permanent, they know that their pet is not going back anymore. When a pet dies mostly of the kids in these ages always feel guilty and unable to forget such instances.
When a pet dies, it is best to tell the kid that the pet is in heaven and its not his/her fault. Making them understand that they can't own a pet forever can help.
Kids ages 10 and up: This is the time that they generally understand what is the concept of death but this is also the time that kids are having a hard time to recover from a pet loss. They may also go through the stages of grief: denial,bargaining,anger,guilt,depression and acceptance.
Understanding the stages of grief can give you a guide to help them in recovering.
Learn about the stages of grief
Please let me know if i'm missing something
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liz
Jul 10, 2010 @ 9:37 pm | delete
- wow.. this lense is very informative.. its a mistake when I got angry that my daughter is crying when her puppy die.. Now I know I will not say those words again....
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by spike03
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