Grieving children's reactions in school

• Child retells events of the death and funeral
• Child dwells on things he/she used to do with the deceased
• Child is disruptive in class
• Student says he/she cannot concentrate and therefore cannot complete work assignments
• Child instigates fights
• Child rejects old friends and teams up with classmates whose parent/sibling is also dead
• Child becomes the “class clown”
• Child is preoccupied with medical cause of loved one’s death
• Child spends free time walking or sitting alone
• Child, at times, appears to be unmoved by the death of deceased
• Child may become overly sensitive and tearful
• Child drops out of after-school activities
• Child assumes role of dead parent
• Child mentions talking to the deceased
• Child relates dreams about the deceased
• Child attempts to phone home during school hours
• Child is preoccupied with his/her own death

www.TIGCONSORTIUM.ORG