Recognizing and Coping With Grief Grief, loss and death unfortunately are all a part of life. They can also be among the most difficult things to talk to children about. LCCAA Head Start staff has put together a few suggestions and resources to help make this process a little easier for parents.
of time.
For additional resources we recommend visiting Cornerstone of Hope’s website at https:// cornerstoneofhope.org. Other good resources include the following:
First, as parents and caregivers ,recognize that you are also grieving. Be extra gentle to yourself and remember there’s no right or wrong way to grieve. Practice your Typical reactions can include: own self-care and asking for what X Physical changes: with eating, you need. sleeping and toileting issues. To begin talking with children: X Emotional changes: becoming easily overwhelmed or having X Be honest. Use correct but difficulty separating from you. simple words to describe what happened. “Grandma’s body X Behavioral changes: more stopped working and couldn’t tantrums and regressed be fixed. She died.” behaviors. X Tell them it’s ok to ask questions. X Cognitive changes: more fearful It’s also ok to say “I don’t know” thoughts or mistaken beliefs that or “let me think about that.” what happened was their fault. X Let them know its ok to cry and Oftentimes, changes and adjustment feel sad. Share your feelings difficulties improve over time. All of with them. the above feelings and changes are Common grief feelings include normal during grief. Be concerned anger, guilt, sadness and fear. if they persist over a longer period
When Dinosaurs Die by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown and read aloud here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=YM_WRhBmEdI The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr, read aloud by the author here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=efWdOol5g6o Sesame Street in Communities https://youtu.be/t2D9Ezh9sUE https://youtu.be/85OMNP1EQb8 For additional support, feel free to reach out to Head Start staff, or contracted Mental Health Consultant, Donna Jezewski at Donna.Jezewski@ohioguidestone. org or by phone at 440-204-3129 (Office Phone) or (440) 752-0039 (OGS Cell Phone).
Hopkins-Locke Staff Member Mourned
Staff at LCCAA Head Start at Hopkins Locke are prepared for future work at LCCAA mourning the unexpected loss of a colleague and friend. Head Start by taking a class Shayna O’Neal died Feb. 3. She had been an Early with Director Shauna Matelski. Childhood Service Worker at the center for three years. She had just received a TEACH Scholarship to work toward her Hopkins Locke Site Administrator Alicia Risner said Child Development Associate the staff was truly shocked at the news and has taken credential. every opportunity to express the love and respect they “Shayna was a bright, kind, and had for Miss Shay. caring employee,” said Human Resources Director “It’s a day by day thing,” she said. “I’m very thankful Carla Rodriguez. “She loved working with children and that we have each other to lean on.” helping others. Her beautiful smile and charm will be “She’s been a part of us for a long time,” added Family missed by many at the Agency.” Service Worker Supervisor Sharon Henry. Counselors from Ohio Guidestone were made available In 2018, Shayna was among a group of parents who
for both staff and students. Services were private.
