The children at my son's school are facing the loss of a fellow student this week. It has brought into sharp relief for me what a community a school is and how everyone, even those that did not know the student personally are affected.
Children and young people need to be taught how to deal with these extreme emotions. The ability to name and understand them does not simply materialise in the face of such tragedy. I have seen children finding outlets for their emotions, from fighting to finding students to dislike, hate even. They dislike them because perhaps they did not get on with deceased or did not show enough remorse. All the anger and upset they feel over the loss of their friend is redirected at other people. Being cross with somebody is much easier, safer and a known experience.
Grief and learning to mourn are emotions that we all encounter at some point of our lives and helping children understand them, have an outlet for them and know how to work their way through them will really help them in the future.
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