group of six children holding hands in silhouette against a blue sky

Skill-building

Before we can effectively support others, we must first cultivate skills in understanding ourselves, our emotions, and our interactions with others.

This involves recognizing and expressing emotions, communicating with curiosity, not judgment, and developing responsive rather than reactive behavior. These skills are essential for providing support to those facing loss. They also help us maintain health and well-being an strengthen relationships throughout our lifespan.

“When you start to develop your powers of empathy and imagination, the whole world opens up to you.”

Susan Sarandon

: Kids and teens look to trusted adults, people like you and me, to learn how to navigate the world. What we do matters as much, if not more, than what we say. So if we want to help young people develop the foundational skills needed to respond to the big feelings around loss, we need to learn to implement them, too. Showing up for others in meaningful ways involves the ability to recognize and express emotions, communicate with curiosity instead of judgment, practice responsive rather than reactive behavior, and develop healthy boundaries. As a bonus, these same skills we need to show up in meaningful ways for others can also help us maintain our own health and well-being because they involve things like managing stress, nurturing self-compassion, and strengthening our ability to form deep and lasting connections. By cultivating these skills in ourselves, we are providing a helpful guide for the young people in our lives.

Kids need to see trusted adults model these skills

Kids and teens look to trusted adults to learn how to navigate the world. What you do matters as much, if not more, than what you say. By learning to cultivate these skills in ourselves, we are providing a helpful guide for the young people in our lives.

Key Skills for Kids and Teens

girl sitting on floor with eyes closed and hands in front of her heart

Mindfulness

childrens hands on a table using paper cards to form a heart

Emotional Awareness

two boys sit on ground, one has his arm around the other who is upset

Curiosity

Humility

Empathy

Response

Repair

Man on yoga mat stretching his legs and arms.

Self-care for Adults

As you support others through grief, take time to address your own needs. Get practical advice, ideas and inspiration for dealing with personal emotions effectively.

Self-care