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Health & Fitness

"Be Strong, Don't Cry"

Sometimes when children are facing grief or loss, they are told to, "Be strong, don't cry." These words may seem benign, especially when said by a well-meaning adult, but they actually imply to the grieving child that expressing their sadness is "weak," and that their grief is not normal. Children experiencing grief should be given the opportunity to grieve in their own way, and need to know that the adults in their lives support them. Here are a few things to keep in mind when interacting with mourning children:

Remember: although a child's grief may be painful for adults to witness, it is an important part of the healing process. Instead of telling the child that strong people hold back tears, show them that expressing their sadness in healthy ways is true courage.
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