How Do We Tell the Children? A Step-by-Step Guide for Helping Children Two to Teen Cope When Someone Dies » (3 ED)

Now in its third edition, this updated classic guide has been expanded to feature new material to help adults as well as children cope with the impact of traumatic events. Dr. Schaefer's advice is not only for parents but anyone in a caregiving role, including older siblings, grandparents, extended family members, and friends. The revised quick-reference "Crisis Checklist" responds to children's frequently asked questions with helpful scripted answers.

Dr. Schaefer, working with child psychologists and trauma experts, and drawing on more than three decades of experience with families in crisis, has put together a practical guide for anyone who works or lives with children -- parents, caregivers, counselors, or teachers -- for dealing with children's inevitable questions about loss and change, life and death. He provides adults with strategies to assist children with grief and trauma and offers time-tested advice and language that children can understand. The book includes sections on what children think about death; explaining death to children; fear, confusion, and sadness; grief and healing; the funeral and saying good-bye; talking about AIDS; communicating with mentally ill children; and a personal story of parenting through trauma.

Publishers Weekly

Books tend to generate multiple editions when they have something truly valuable to say. This title is no exception. Schaeffer, a psychologist and former funeral home director, and New York City-based journalist Lyons lucidly and straightforwardly explain how to inform children about the realities of death. They explain what most children can easily understand, what they might need help understanding, and the importance of being up-front. This third edition includes new information on dealing with traumatic death, and while that would seem like a timely addition, the section doesn't fit in too well with the rest of the child-directed content; it includes subsections such as "The Impact of Grief on Business and Management," so the book seems to shift its focus to adults. Still, this is recommended for public libraries because of the valuable basic information it contains. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.