Childcare providers

For those involved in childcare, child bereavement can impact in many ways. The death of a child you have known and cared for over time will inevitably affect both yourself and the other children you have looked after alongside that child. When a child in your care experiences the death of a parent or sibling, or anyone else important in their life, you will be caring for that grieving child and providing them with some of the routine and stability that is so important.

Dealing with their grief can be both demanding and challenging, especially when they might ask searching questions, or when their reactions are shown through their behaviour. Where a parent or sibling has died in the family, you may well find yourself in the role of supporting the surviving parent or parents.

The Child Bereavement Charity is able to offer tailor-made training to meet the specific needs of Childcare Providers, covering issues such as children's understanding of death, children's responses to loss and grief, how to help children cope with grief, and responding to children bereaved by sudden death. Training has been undertaken in the past for various local Childminding Associations, and can be offered as an evening session.

The Charity also produces a range of resources helpful both to children and those who care for them.