Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book aims to give teaching professionals a practical story-making guide to enable them to help children cope with loss and change and show them how to avoid compassion fatigue by creating relationships based on compassion. Too many children feel lonely and isolated in their grief, and their mental health suffers due to a lack of solid supports. These children are then at risk of not achieving their full potential academically and socially. If professionals are given the tools they will be better able to support children through the daunting challenges posed by having to deal with loss and grief. Bereavement training is exclusive to bereavement counsellors, which means that other professionals are left to figure out how to deal with childhood grief themselves.