Brief, concrete, and accessible conversations with parents in mind.
We are committed to providing the right support, in the right way, at the right time. For some families, the right support may be individual or family counselling during a life-threatening illness or after a death; for others, it may be attending a structured support group. We have also heard from many parents that they would appreciate brief, concrete, direct and accessible information as they navigate new situations with their grief and their children’s grief.
The Parent Lunch & Learn Series allows us to:
- Be responsive to parents with specific questions (individuals can sign up on Eventbrite to attend the live event).
- Be accessible to parents unable to access or uninterested in counselling services (the recorded conversations are available on our website).
- Share practical, concrete information and resources to address specific questions and topics we know most parents and caregivers are navigating while parenting a child who is grieving.
- Be collaborative as we partner with other agencies to bring their expertise to parents who are grieving.
- Provide a resource people can return to or share with others who would benefit from the information.
- Shrink the feelings of isolation by creating a space where grief concerns can be shared, heard, and responded to in honouring ways.
- Create an informal sense of community even for those watching the recorded conversations. Knowing others have the same questions or struggles is normalizing and less isolating.
- Be fluid in addressing current issues in the community or culture (the impact of Covid on grieving teens, for example).
Our Lunch & Learns Series is designed to meet the needs of parents, but the recorded conversations provide a wealth of practical and accessible information. Teachers, community leaders, and volunteers who support children and students who are grieving may find the series helpful.
Recorded Conversations
Parent Lunch & Learn Series Introduction (Recording)
For some families the right support may be individual or family counselling during a life-threatening illness or after a death; for others it may be attending a structured support group. We have also heard from many parents that they would appreciate brief, concrete, direct and accessible information as they navigate new situations with their grief and their children’s grief. Our new Lunch & Learns Series is designed to meet these needs.
When Grief Goes to School (Recording)
When a child or teen has experienced the death of someone in their lives, the thought of going back to school may often bring additional challenges. There are a number of things parents can to do help their children feel safe and give them a sense of stability.
How to Talk to Children about Death & Grief (Recording)
Children grieve differently than adults. They do not have the capacity to deal with intense emotions continuously like adults. Instead, children grieve in doses, alternating between times of play and intense emotions. A child’s age, developmental stage, and experiences determine their understanding of death and ability to cope with the death of a loved one.
We Grieve Differently…Even in Families (Recording)
We all grieve in our own unique way and have different needs as we experience the death of someone close to us.
How To Talk with Children About Advanced Illness (Recording)
When someone in the family has a life-threatening illness, the whole family is impacted by the many changes, the concerns and the unknown. Adults may choose to avoid talking to children about the illness to protect them from pain and distress. However, when children are not informed, they often feel excluded, alone and isolated. It’s important to consider that children will feel something is going on in their family even when they are not told. They may even think that they have caused the anxiety and unsettled state of their family.