Effective tips to help students through grief

In the year 2014, a grade 8th student fell from a residential building in Ajman. The following year, the same school saw the death of another grade 11 student who also fell from her apartment building. The aftermath left her classmates and the whole school in shock. 

Although the schools do offer counseling sessions, a loss is a loss and tends to affect students profoundly and differently. Regardless of the type of loss, or the type of trauma that student’s experience, helping a grieving student is time consuming and requires tolerance and patience. 

It’s natural for them to be confused and interpret the incident in a language they find most appropriate. They may also end up blaming themselves for the incident.

In a time where students’ minds are vulnerable to all sort of influences it’s important to choose the best counselors and teachers to help students out when grieving. Opt for the best American schools in Dubai that encourage student wellbeing and mental health and ensure that students can cope with tragedies effectively. 

The article highlights how teachers in classrooms can help students through grief:

Tips to help a student in grief

Grieving students may be unpredictable. But teachers need to ensure that they’re on the road to recovery. By encouraging conversations, answering questions and not pressuring students to talk about the incident, teachers, and parents play a huge role in motivating the student towards a normal life. Read on to know how teachers can help out grieving students:

Encourage conversation

Encourage conversation about any tragedy, trauma or loss that the students experienced. By talking to students about incidents teachers and parents prevent different interpretations stemming into the child's mind. Children may interpret traumatic events differently and many times, illogically which is why it is important that adults provide a more logical spin on the event.

Be truthful

It's natural for a student to ask questions about tragedies, but it's essential to not lie to students when responding. In case they feel confused, there is a high chance that they will end up feeling more isolated and not share their feelings with teachers or parents. The truth may be a little difficult but it heals, so tell the students the truth about the tragedies.

Understand the differences

Since no two students are the same, it's essential to understand that children tend to deal with grief differently too. Help them out by being patient with the behaviors and removing any other stresses from the lives of these students.

Encourage routine behavior

They may spend too much time thinking about the past. Encourage normalcy in classrooms and engage students to keep them connected to the present.

Don't pressurize

Some children find it hard to communicate what they're feeling. Allow them to talk only when they're comfortable with the expression. Pressurizing the students to talk about the event may have the opposite effect. Encourage them to write, draw, play instruments, or other variable tasks to express their true feelings.

 Create a support group

Create a support group that consists of a teacher and student who have been through the same loss and grief. Finding a supportive community with the same experience quickens the road to recovery.

Take Away

Whether it's the loss of a loved one or any other shaking incident, children due to their sensitive and vulnerable nature can be easily affected deeply by it. Teachers, parents, and students can work together to help children out of their grief if they work together. 

If you're a teacher, read the tips above to help out your students in distress, and if you're a parent, it’s essential to opt for the best American schools in Dubai to help students recover from the grief, they're feeling. The best teachers and support groups can make the biggest difference to help out a traumatized student.