Grieving Childhood Caregivers

Caregivers play an extremely important role in helping a child deal with the death of a loved one. An article by Hopkins (2002) explores the role of an early childhood educator in addressing the topic of death. Educators cannot protect children from learning about death, however they’re able to sculpt how developmentally appropriate their education will be. A grieving child’s perception of death relates directly to the child’s level of cognition. Perceptions of death change as children progress through developmental stages (Hopkins.,2002). A clear understanding of these perceptions is essential for educators wishing to respond appropriately and helpfully to a grieving child’s unique needs. The article goes into depth by breaking down children