TIPS: Helping your child to get over the death of a pet and coping
One of the most difficult things in life is to say goodbye to a pet and especially for a child.
Whether you have a pet that was there from the beginning to see them grow up together or if it was your child's first puppy or kitten on a special birthday, loss is difficult and it can be even more difficult to find a way to cope with it.
Hugs and reassurance that your child's pet is in a better place can help, but seeing them heartbroken about loosing a friend is awful. Here are some tips that you can implement in a situation of loosing your pet:
Break the ice
If it's possible, prepare your kids of what can happen as their pets get older. Explain to them in a child friendly way that their pet is now a grandma or grandpa and that they have to be a bit softer on them than usual and that they need more attention and love than ever.
If your pet has an illness, explain to them what is happening and prepare them for what is coming and let them make their pet as comfortable as possible. No one can prepare you enough for saying goodbye but it will make them understand more about how and what will happen so that it's not that big of a shock when it's time.
Reading and seeing
Include books about the loss of a pet in their reading schedule or even movies so that they can understand the reality of the situation and see how they can work through it.
You will have to use your own discretion on this tip because each child might react different to this method. They might get more upset and sad and think of their own situation or they might learn how to cope with the loss of their pet through examples.
Some books that you can get for your child is:
Sammy in the sky
Harry and Hopper
Goodbye Mousie
Some movies that you can watch with your kids are:
Marley and me
A dog's purpose
Eight below
Frankenweenie
Memories last forever
Make a project out of this one. After you have said your goodbye's and your child is more emotionally stable, get out the photos of all the fun times you as a family had with your pet. That photo where Buster chewed up all mom's shoes or the time dad had to re-rake the leaves that Spot decided to scatter all over the backyard again.
Take any book or pieces of paper and make your own memory book of your beloved pet showing all the good and funny times you had together so that you can look at it in years to come and enjoy all the good memories you had together. Telling stories about times together always helps to heal wounds faster.
At the end of the day this is a bitter pill for both adults and kids seeing that your pets become part of the family. All you can do as a parent is be there for you children and answer any questions they have and being there as a shoulder to cry on. With time, all wounds heal.
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that is a great topic I never thought about it.... my daughter loves our cat and I know she will be so sad if something happened to him...Thank you for sharing this great tips and books references:)
It's never a nice topic to discuss but it's good for them to know the reality and for you to prepare and help them through it :) To have a pet is such a privilege.
Thanks for the read.
it is a privilege to have a pet and they really become a part of your family.
We are currently petting a cat right now and my Kid is very fond with this kitten. I never thought of this. But when I read your post I realized that you are absolutely right. Pets are growing old too. Loosing a pet is just the same as loosing your love ones. Thank you for sharing this thought. I will remember this. So when the time comes our pet will leave us, my son would be ready for it. But as for now, I will let them both enjoy each others company and watch them grow up together ♥
Communication is vital! The loss of my dog when I was a child was devastating! He was my best friend. My parents barely addressed that I had lost such a huge part of my heart and it crushed me. Thanks for sharing - parents, if you're going to make the decision to bring a human being into the world, make it your priority to communicate with them about LIFE, of which death is certainly a part.