What are some good books for young children to help with losing a parent.

Question

My husband just died on July 18th. We have two sons one is 9 and the other is 4. I am trying to find some good books for them so they can understand about their daddy is gone. Also something to the effect that their daddy will always love them.

Answer 1

I so sorry for your loss.

Try explaining to them that Daddy loves you but he had to go to heaven because God needed him. My grandmom used to tell me when I was younger that God takes you when your needed in heaven. EXAMPLE: If your husband was a teacher, then God would need him to help teach the children in heaven.  (I'm not sure if your religous or what you belive in so I'm sorry if that was offending or anything)

I can only think of one book though

Love You forever. By Robert Munsch. (its about a son and him mom though)

Answer 2

I can't think of any books but I can think of some "tecnichues" to helping your children stay positive.This may be hard at first but always remind them their dad loved them.It's better to talk about him then to mourn him. (trust me) When the time is right and you feel that you and your kids are ready,start dating,kids need a daddy(or step dad in this case) to play catch with them or play video games with them.But make sure you and your kids are ready.

      

                                        Good luck to you and your kids!

Answer 3

for the four year old

Clifton, Lucille (1988).  Everett Anderson's Goodbye. Reading Rainbow.

Mellonie, Bryan and Robert Ingpen (1983).  Lifetimes. Bantum Books.

Powell, E. Sandy (1990). Geranium Morning. Minneapolis, MN:

Carolrhoda Books

Vigna, Judith (1991). Saying Goodbye to Daddy. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Co.

I Miss You: A First Look At Death

for the nine year old

Lowden-Golightly, S. (1993).  Emily's Sadhappy Season. Omaha, NE: Centering Corporation.

Smith, D. B. A Taste of Blackberries. Boston: Thomas Crowell Company.

(I have read a taste of blackberries very good book.)

also try this link

http://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Children-De...

I am very very sorry for your loss. allways try to remember that the BEST book for your children is the bible. let your children (and you) lean on God and he will lift you up and help you through this

remember this verse:  "For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord,'plans to proper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future." everything happens for a reason try to figure out what the reason for this was and you will be able to deal with it easier

God Bless you and your family =)

Answer 4

I can't really suggest any books. When my husband passed away, there were a few titles I came across- "When People Die" and "The Fall of Freddy the Leaf"- that I thought would help my son overcome his dad's passing. Neither book helped us. Unfortunately, I can't remember the names of the authors.

My son was 4 when his dad died however he wasn't the type of little kid who believed in fairy tails. Explaining to him the concept of life and death helped. Letting him know that although his dad wasn't physically around, that he'd always be there for him to talk to, helped. Letting him know that his dad loved him very much, helped. Letting him know that his dad's death had nothing to do with him, helped. My husband had passed almost at the beginning of the school year and he somewhat acted out- started fights or would be in a bad mood. Whenever I asked him what was wrong, he didn't wanna talk about it. He never really expressed his feelings about his dad and I thought there would be problems. However, there has been none since the school semester following his dad's passing. That following school year, he was back to his normal self and have been an upstanding kid every since, he's 9 now.

The biggest problem for us, or rather for me, was that I didn't know to deal with my husband's death. My son handled it much better than I did. I can't count how many times I thought I'd have to stiffle my emotions to keep from upsetting my son and at one point, I just broke down. I was scared and guilty all at the same time. I thought that if the one who died had been me, my husband would've handled it better than I did. It took me much longer to bounce back and slowly I began to realize that kids are amazing. Some kids have that ability to spring back to life because they know in their hearts that although things may be different, everything will be okay. If it wasn't for my son rubbing me on my back regularly saying "dont cry mommy, everything will be okay" I'm not sure if I would've made it.

My point is, kids do what they have to to bounce back. Some kids use tragedy as an excuse to act up but for the most part, they have an innocence about them that won't let them see that things can go from bad to worse. They just know that things will get better.  

I'm sorry for you loss. I sincerely hope that things work out for you and your family but don't get so lost helping everyone else cope that you don't help yourself. Like my mother told me, "you can't do anything for anybody if you're not mentally and emotionally together."