Losing a pet is one of the hardest experiences to go through. For children, it can be very devastating. If you or a loved one have lost a pet, these tools will help you help a child deal with it in a healthy way. Find out what you need to know.
Let’s talk about a variety of ways to help the child through the loss of a pet. First of all, allow the child the opportunity to say good-bye to the deceased pet friend. This is one of the first steps in the healthy aspect of dealing with the loss. As humans, we process most information through our eyes, so seeing a deceased being confirms that the death is real…and, of course, the child is going to cry.
Help them with the proper words to use also. It’s okay to say “die” or “dead.” Use the right words and as hard as it is, make this a teachable moment that they will forever remember.
On a side note, you know the maturity of your child better than anyone. Therefore, the topic of children being a part of euthanasia is one that has to be unique to the child, his or her age, and maturity level.
Next, as a caring parent, there are a variety of rituals that you can do with your child to encourage their mourning and to honor their memories of the beloved pet. Consider these activities:
Writing a letter about the pet.
Planting a flower in the pet’s memory.
Setting up a Tribute Table at home that will showcase all of the things that were important to that pet as a part of the family.
Consider having a Celebration of Life ceremony where the child is allowed to talk about the pet, what he/she will always remember, what lessons the pet taught the child, and what they will miss most.
Help them with a donation drive to support a local shelter or rescue group.
Make a scrapbook.
Make a stepping stone to place outside in the flower beds to forever honor where that pet liked to lie during those sunny days.
Make a clay paw print of the pet so that they child can keep this in the safety of his own room.
It's important to remember that everyone mourns in their own way. This is just a way to help children understand and cope with this major loss.
For more information on dealing with a pet's death, visit Dog Time.
