Helping Students Cope with Grief: Bilingual Resources for Schools and Families
When a child or teenager experiences a loss, it can be difficult for grown-ups to know how to support them, especially if they are impacted by the loss as well. These resources offer tips and ideas, as well suggestions of books, videos, and guides that may be helpful during difficult times.
Resources for Schools
Organizations
Recommendations
- Addressing Grief: Tips for Teachers and Administrators (National Association of School Psychologists)
- Supporting the grieving student (American Federation of Teachers)
- When Students Grieve, How Can Educators Help? (National Education Association)
- 5 Tips for Supporting Grieving Students (Edutopia)
- When Bad Things Happen (Teaching Tolerance)
- Using a Strengths-Based Approach with ELs: Supporting Students Living with Trauma, Violence and Chronic Stress
Resources for Families
Public media resources
- Sesame Street: Grief Toolkit for Families (also available in Spanish)
- Sesame Street for Military Families: Grief (also available in Spanish)
- How to Help Your Child When a Loved One Dies (PBS Parents)
- Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News (PBS Parents)
- When Something Scary Happens (PBS Parents)
- Meet the Helpers: A Public Media Initiative Inspired by Fred Rogers (WUCF and PBS)
- How To Talk With Kids About Terrible Things (NPR)
HealthyChildren.org
This bilingual website is run by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- How Children Understand Death & What You Should Say (also in Spanish)
- Childhood Grief: When to Seek Additional Help (also in Spanish)
- Attending Funerals or Memorial Services (also in Spanish)
Additional guides and tips
- Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event (Child Mind)
- Parenting for a Challenging World: Recovery After a Traumatic Event (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Help in the Times of Crisis or Loss (National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement)
- Explaining the News to Our Kids (Common Sense Media)
- Feel Your Best Self: Bilingual Toolkit
- 15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence (Colorín Colorado)
Booklists
These books for children and teens tackle the tough topics of death and grief and provide space ask big questions.
