ABSTRACT
This chapter will describe reactions to grief that occurs in a bereaved child. Many adults hold misconceptions about a child’s responses to loss, and the material in this chapter will dispel some of these myths. Explanations and rationale for these behaviors will be discussed within a cognitive and psychological developmental context. Typical reactions will be presented via hypothetical case study examples of children at different developmental levels. Common, uncommon, and atypical responses at each stage will be discussed with emphasis on age and gender differences. These case studies will illustrate the ways in which children’s thoughts and feelings may manifest in a school setting, both immediately after a loss and perhaps after time has passed.
