Bereaved Children and Teens: A Support Guide for Parents and Professionals (Paperback)

by Earl A. Grollman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Almost 30 years ago, Grollman wrote a groundbreaking work for children on death, Explaining Death to Children (LJ 11/1/67). Since then, Americans have made strides toward viewing death as a natural part of life, not an occasion to be denied or ignored, and for the most part this attitude is being taught to children. Grollman now brings together articles from 14 writers (teachers, medical professionals, clergy, and counselors) to address diverse subtopics, such as terminal illness, death education in schools, responses among different faiths and ethnic groups, and the use of film and drama to teach about death. His selections stress the importance of grief and attendance at a funeral and burial or marking closure in some definite way. The value here is in recognizing wide, diverse responses to death while supporting the idea that since death is part of life, children need to be prepared. For most collections.?Linda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, Pa.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
Bringing together fourteen experts from across the United States and Canada, Bereaved Children and Teens is a comprehensive guide to helping children and adolescents cope with the emotional, religious, social, and physical consequences of a loved one's death. The result is an indispensable reference for parents, teachers, counselors, health-care professionals, and clergy.

Topics covered include what to say and what not to say when explaining death to very young children; how teenagers grieve differently from children and adults; how to translate Protestant, Catholic, or Jewish beliefs about death into language that children can understand; how ethnic and cultural differences can affect how children grieve; what teachers and parents can do to help bereaved young people at school; and activities, books, and films that help children and teens cope.

"In this much-needed book, a group of carefully chosen authorities explore with sensitivity and wisdom the complex problems faced by those young people whom Rabbi Grollman so correctly calls "the forgotten mourners" . . . The authors have given us a work that is direct, thorough and--most of all--useful."


--Sherwin B. Nuland, M.D., F.A.C.S.

author of How We Die, winner of the 1994 National Book Award

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Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Beacon Press (August 31, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807023078
• ISBN-13: 978-0807023075
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #90,229 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You can't miss with Earl Grollman!, November 3, 2001

By	J. R. Garrison "jamirae" (Peoria, AZ United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

So far every book I have seen by Earl Grollman is wonderful and this one is no exception. Having lost my mother to cancer when I was a teenager and now, as an adult, working with children who have experienced the death of a family member, this book is a great guide. It has everything from explaining death to children to spiritual and cultural differences of death. If you're a parent of a grieving child or a professional helping children, this is a perfect book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For parents, teachers, scout leaders and youth leaders., September 27, 2001

By	"74herbi" (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews

Book: I Highly recommend this book for understanding grieving children. It helped me cope with what I was feeling, and with what I thought our boys might be going through, when my father in law died.

The book is good for parents, teachers, scout leaders and youth workers.

It contains over a dozen essays from religious, and medical specialists who deal with death and grief and children. Many religious and social concerns and perspectives are introduced. It is good for youth leaders because not everyone comes from your particular background and it helps you to understand where they might be coming from. It is written for an average parent or teacher to read. You don't have to be a Pastor or a Psychologist to get enormous value from it. Warning, however, it made me cry. That was part of the process too.

If I can summarize the whole book in one short snippet-

Every child is different, Expect some to be completely quiet and expect others to burst out laughing. Watch for the change. Don't dismiss their feelings, it will take time to listen-- a LOT of time-- it can't be solved in a 15 minute talk, but should be addressed at the child's schedule.

Although the book is published by Beacon Press, which falls under the Unitarian Universalist Church, each of the chapter-essays are written from a different person of a different religious or social perspective. There is a chapter each on the Protestants, Catholics, Jewish, Native American, Inner City, etc. perspectives. Grollman was the editor of all the essays. Each essay is easy enough to read as a stand-alone guide.