Guidebook Series by The Dougy Center

This practical, easy-to-read guidebook series is based on what The Dougy Center has learned from the over twelve thousand children, teens, and their families whom it has served nationally and internationally since 1982. The Center's Children's Grief Support Network provides information, training materials, and technical assistance to help grieving children, teens, and families.

Helping Children Cope With Death provides a comprehensive, easy-to-read overview of issues facing grieving children, and ways to help them. This guidebook helps parents, teachers, and counselors understand the grieving infant, preschooler, and 6- to 12-year-old child and relevant developmental issues. The book features guidelines on explaining death to children and answers to the most frequently asked questions about children and grief.

35 Ways to Help a Grieving Child is a simple, straight forward guidebook that draws from the stories of children and teenagers who have been on the front lines of grief. This practical little book addresses how to include children in decision making, what to expect from different ages of grieving children, and how to provide safe outlets for children to express their emotions.

Helping Teens Cope With Death explains common grief reactions of teenagers, specific challenges grieving adolescents face, how different types of death affect teens, and advice from parents to parents on supporting their adolescents. This 61-page guidebook gives readers details on the six basic principles of teen grief, factors that influence adolescents' grieving process, and safe outlets to constructively cope with anger.

Other books in the series for professionals and parents include Helping the Grieving Student: A Guide for Teachers, When Death Impacts Your School: A Guide for School Administrators, and What About the Kids? Understanding Their Needs in Funeral Planning and Services.

Additional Resources for Religious Educators

Waving Goodbye: An Activities Manual for Children in Grief is an excellent resource with over 45 activities to use with children and teens in peer-to-peer support groups.

Healing the Bereaved Child by Alan Wolfelt is a comprehensive practical book for parents, daycare / hospice caregivers, counselors, and clergy.

Help For the Hard Times: Getting Through Loss by Earl Hipp is a helpful book for adolescents, young adults, and their families about the grieving process.