A child can help add pictures of their pet, as well as their collar tags, so that they will have a special book to revisit in the coming years when they want to remember their furry family member. The berenstain bears lose a friend the berenstain bears chain of storybooks touch on pretty much every subject under the sun and this story about loss and grief is a great one to share, especially if your kids like. The loss of a pet is devastating, and many pet owners find the grief associated with the loss of a pet just as or even more challenging than the loss of human loved ones. The loss of a beloved companion animal is often our childrens first real encounter with death, and that experience will remain and affect them for. I want to be able to share what those children have taught me. Most of these books can be purchased through other book sellers, as well, or found at your local library.
Ask your librarian or bookstore for an age appropriate book to read together. Indeed, the relationship between human and animal is special. The loss of a pet is undoubtedly one of the hardest things for a child to experience. A book for children born subsequent to a pregnancy loss kids 48 63. Most of these books would apply just as well to the loss of any loved one or even a pet. Find letters from a desperate dog at your local library. Children who cant yet write or spell can contribute drawings of your pet instead. A child can help add pictures of their pet, as well as their collar tags, so that they will have a special book to revisit in the coming. Clients commonly ask veterinarians about how to tell a child about putting a dog down. While death is not explicitly mentioned, this book is a lovely resource for offering reassurance to children who have experienced the loss of a parent. As a bereavement counselor, im often asked by parents how best to help children deal with the loss of a pet. Feb 05, 2015 top 10 childrens books on death and bereavement from michael rosens sad book to patrick nesss a monster calls, holly webb, author of a tiger tale, shares the most touching books that help. Dog heaven, an affectionate and joyous look at what heaven must be like for dogs.
The pet grief printable below is a perfect way to honor the students loss while providing them with a sense of closure. Grieving the death of a pet 9780806643489 by betty carmack. Children also tend to comeback to the subject repeatedly. Pet loss books that i recommend edw these are the books i consider to be the most helpful for anyone going through the terrible grief of losing a beloved pet. From the tiniest mouse to the biggest dog, weve celebrated these furry lives and remembered the. Some of the most important things i know, i have learned from children like you this is a long book, and sometimes working on it can be hard. It makes a fine supplement to this abbreviated webpage. Top childrens picture books about the death of a pet 01. Children cant cope by themselves, and will need all the understanding and support available. On the first day of grade two, i ran home, excited to tell my pet rat, shorty, about all the new friends i had made. Childrens picture books about the death of a pet thoughtco. Be there to talk to your kids and let them know it is natural to feel all sorts of emotions when. Pet heaven childrens bedtime storymediation youtube.
Pet loss and grief 25 books meet your next favorite book. When a pet becomes ill or passes away, it is a difficult time for the entire family. To help youngsters through this hard time, a book may be able to help explain and heal. Pets provide us with so much love that the loss is almost more than what wed experience losing a human loved one, says kristine kevorkian, ph. The loss of a pet is one of the hardest things for a child to experience. Jan 16, 2018 pets are beloved members of the family. Parents often want to shelter children from death, which is. Many children must face the terminal illness and death of pets, grandparents, other friends and family members, and more. This meditation is to help all my little friends out there that have lost pets and are having a hard time with it.
Add a loving message or dedication in any book written by you. These books sensitively address loss and offer hope. It is important for children to have the opportunity to. Losing someone you love is heartbreaking, but explaining grief to children can still be filled with hope, love. There is really no right or wrong way to approach this sensitive subject, but its important that, when a pet death happens or is about to happen, we explain things as openly and honestly as we can, and. Although its a very common experience, losing a beloved pet can be difficult for children and parents. This book can also be found on our bibliography page. The process of grieving a pet cat is no different than that of a human family member or any other pet. When this happens, children need consolation, love, support, and affection more than they need complicated medical or scientific explanations. Readers love it because they can relate to the interactions between pet and owner.
As hard as it is, there are thankfully some things you can do to help guide yourself through the process of grieving. They will help you to open a dialogue with your child, and they will bring peace and comfort during what is likely to be the most difficult time in her short life. To help youngsters through this time, a book may be able to help explain. Books to help children grieve the death of a pet brightly. Childrens books about death, loss, and grieving the new. Books for grieving children grief resources allina health. Its an elegantly simple picture book with the message that grief. Our books are tiny treasures, and we strive for excellence in customer support. Check out our list of 101 classic books to help children grieve. Im so sad to have lost him and so thankful that our cruise was. For most kids, pets are more than just animals their families own theyre members of the family and the best of friends. Death and dying are two of the hardest facts of life to explain to children.
As a parent, you will need to manage your own grief while also helping your child process their emotions. But this doesnt keep children from imagining, especially when it comes to glorious afterlives. Helping children with pet loss the death of a pet is often the first experience a child has with loss. Children, depending on their maturity level, may struggle to understand what happened to their pet. The death of a pet is often the first experience a child has with loss. This book is reassuring that the pain of grief wont last forever and that it will get easier to remember the good times children had. Even children who arent directly dealing with loss or grieving often still have questions about the concepts. The loss of a pet cat is inevitable and may be the childs first experience of death, but there are ways for parents and others to help the child cope with it. Only books that have been personally recommended to me by users of are listed here. The book was light purple and was probably 12 x 9 in size. Losing a pet how to help your toddler deal with death. A few highly recommended books to help children cope with the death of a pet.
I know how hard it has been for us, and its my sincere hope that youll find something here that can make it a little easier for you and your children. Jul 24, 20 these 10 kids books on grief will help your child to deal with death in a positive way. Helping children cope with the death of a pet funeralwise. Pet lovers from around the globe have brought their pets to life in petlandia. Below are options for caregivers of children to help them through the loss of a beloved pet. Helping chrildren cope with the death of a beloved pet.
Subscribe to get all our helpful grief posts sent right to your inbox. Parents and caregivers who want to find other books should look for books that address children s grief and loss, natural disasters, anxiety, and dealing with tragedy. Helping children cope with the death of a pet losing the family pet can be particularly hard on children. A guide for teenagers and their friends by helen fitzgerald. So, i want you to give yourself a sticker on each page as you get it done. Shop by age, genre, series, and more to find the perfect childrens books for both little kids and big kids. The endearing picture book comes with a very important message for all children dealing with this loss friendship is forever. Talk to a children s librarian for other appropriate search terms. A spiritual guide by julia harris this book helps readers to understand the many emotional reactions to the loss of a pet. Recommended books for adolescents grieving the loss of a pet. I remember the counting activity used different things to help memorization also.
I will always love you childrens book about death and. For many kids, the death of a cherished animal is often their first experience of losing someone they love. Best childrens books about the death of a pet living montessori. If youre in the same boat as us, please accept my condolences. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Picture books to help kids cope with the loss of a pet. But learning to recognize and deal with the situation is an important part of managing the loss of your cat. Included in the many chapters dealing with all aspects of healing from pet bereavement, there is a special chapter.
The dogs name and the names of up to four family members children or adults are also included throughout the story and illustrations. Unfortunately, the joy of owning a pet goes handinhand with the heartbreak of losing one, whether because of old age, illness, or an accident. Carmack draws on the wisdom of ecclesiastes, her own experience, and interviews with dozens of pet lovers to guide the reader through the initial loss of a pet to the dawning of new hope and reassurance. I liked this book quite a bit and think it is a great way to share the stages of grief with children. From michael rosens sad book to patrick nesss a monster calls, holly webb, author of a tiger tale, shares the most touching books that help us talk and think about loss of a loved one. Webmd asked the experts to offer advice about how to help your child deal with the loss of a pet. Say, a parent who moves across the country during a divorce. It contained short stories and had tools to learn how to count. It looks old because it was written in the eighties, but this is a wonderful book. This is a good blog post about helping children cope with pet loss by sue atkins, the parenting expert. I have struggled with my moms cancer diagnosis since the day my sister told me.
Its a big book, but solidly biblical and completely. Sometimes, if requested, a good teacher will schedule class time to talk about pets and their death. It starts with talking with your child about death truthfully and in an ageappropriate manner. This can sometimes help kids to open up and talk about how they are feeling. Losing a pet can be a traumatic experience for any child. Luckily, there are some really excellent books about pets dying that can help kids learn how to cope with loss and grief. If my dog could talk personalized dog book i see me. Books for children dealing with loss or trauma updated 7115.
The books below help you to know that you are not alone in your sorrow, nor are you silly or crazy to mourn your loss. Helping children cope with pet loss pet loss support. Goodbye, mousieis an excellent picture book for 35yearolds dealing with the death of a pet. Adrienne kruzer, rvt, has worked with a variety of animals for over 15 years, including birds of prey, reptiles, and small mammals. This downtoearth book offers solace and practical suggestions for coping with grief. I mean love love love love more than any other book on the list.
How to help children cope with pet loss agape pet services. The loss of a pet may be your childs first experience of deathand your first opportunity to teach them about coping with the grief and pain that inevitably accompanies the joy of loving another living creature. Our children s book experts put together a list of picture books. Sometimes its helpful for a toddler to say goodbye after losing a pet, perhaps by holding a simple ceremony to honor her pet s life or by drawing a picture. On losing your grandma the 10 best kids books on grief. To vote on books not in the list or books you couldnt find in the list, you can click on the tab add books to this list and then choose from your books, or simply search. This may be the first experience your child has with the death of a loved one and he or she may not even remember a time when their furry friend was not part of the family. How we handle this event can have a farreaching impact on our. The book shows the boy caring for elfie as she ages and his. Im looking for a children s book my mom used to read to me. I skipped most of the stages of grief and went right for.
Some books are available to read with your kids about dealing with the loss of a pet. The howto guide for kids meeting dogs, by stephanie calmenson. Told from the perspective of the pet, the book helps owners work through the emotions of losing a beloved animal companion. Children s reactions to the death of a pet will depend upon their age and developmental level. How to deal with the loss of your cat the spruce pets. The loss of a pet is a sad time for the whole family, but it can be especially hard for young children who might be experiencing death for the first time. Why losing a pet hurts so much and why the stages of grief are just as valid when your loss is an animal. This book, told from the perspective of a dog, is about the problems between humans and pets, and how the dog seeks advice on controlling its owner. Jul 11, 2016 told from the perspective of the pet, the book helps owners work through the emotions of losing a beloved animal companion.
Top 10 childrens books on death and bereavement childrens. Help children get over the loss of a pet with these picture books about the grief and loss after the death of a family pet. The list includes books from a wide variety of perspectives christian and nonchristian, and also includes classic chapter books, teen lit, workbooks, pet loss, and much more. Because this story is told through the voice of a fish, it might be the perfect way for young children to relate to losing someone. Ill always love you by hans wilhelm explores the love between humans and their pets through the story shared by a young narrator about his dog, elfie, and their life together.
Include a custom dedication message and two photos, one in the front and another in the back of the book, to make this a pawsome present. Parents often want to shelter children from death, which is understandable but honesty can be the best thing. Your kids are going to ask where their beloved pet is now so you might as well have books on hand that will help you find encouraging answers. While every child and every family will find different ways to honor their pets and work through the grieving process, our family has used the following five activities after losing our beloved pets.
Understanding and coping with the loss of a pet find a. People who do not experience the deep love and companionship of a pet find this difficult to understand and may not be able to validate the experience of the person who is. Pet loss books words of comfort from pet loss survivors pet loss books sometimes just reading the stories of grief shared by others who have lost a beloved pet can provide great comfort to you. For children, the process can also be profoundly confusing. Children and pets grief following loss of a cat vca. In this useful book from the first experience series, the affable star of mister rogers neighborhood helps children share feelings of the loss of a pet while offering reassurance that grieving is a natural, healing thing to do. Helpful childrens picture books about grief and death. This nonfiction book is a classic from the gentle mr. Our childrens book experts put together a list of picture books on the topic. Best childrens books for helping children cope with the death of a pet. Jul 21, 2017 many children must face the terminal illness and death of pets, grandparents, other friends and family members, and more. Whether boasted on a bumper sticker or proclaimed aloud, these phrases capture the importance people place on their relationships with their pets. Following is a list of books that are recommended by grief and crisis experts working with children.
1613 99 1588 1220 299 86 658 911 993 1177 1174 298 281 88 1641 735 1152 1577 1001 106 567 485 540 1414 629 281 953 840 1311 1007 858 470 1464 62 767 1380 247