Take Care of Yourself as Parent or Caregiver Caring for a bereaved child may be painful and time-consuming. Realize that you, too, are mov- ing through various phases of grief, just like the children. However, you will rarely be at the same place they are at the same time. Take care of yourself. Attend victim support groups, write in a journal, or seek counseling for a while. The best thing you can do for your child is to deal with your own bereavement in a healthy way. If you have questions or concerns or would like additional support in helping your child cope with death, call a local hospice, grief center, local MADD chapter, your child’s guidance counselor at school, or a mental health professional. Many hospital social work departments can refer you to appropriate programs or professionals. Funeral directors and faith-based community Children thrive in routines. Routines establish safe expectations for them and can help children cope after the chaos of a crash. Going through the simple routine of getting ready for bed, tak- ing a bath, and reading a book can help to start re-establishing a feeling of normalcy. Try to get the children back into a routine as soon as possible with regular times for waking, sleeping, eating and going to school. leaders are also good resources. Get Back Into a Routine Reach out to your community to find support for your children.
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