Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful tool
Review: After reading this book my eyes have been open to the conversations I have had with the children I teach and those that I come in contact with. I felt that this book is one that anyone in any profession could relate to. The book's focus is on how to help our child deal with grief or loss but I feel that it even teachs us, as adults, how to communicate with children in an every day conversation. During the first 7 chapters the authors focus on the myths that we as adults communicate to our children, and inturn see the myths that were communicated to us as children. Everyone at some point in their life will deal with loss/grief of some sort and also helping someone they love deal with loss/grief. We all must be equipted with the knowledge of how to do this effectivly. This book is an easy reading book that at anytime can be pulled off your home library shelf and put to good use.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful tool
Review: After reading this book my eyes have been open to the conversations I have had with the children I teach and those that I come in contact with. I felt that this book is one that anyone in any profession could relate to. The book's focus is on how to help our child deal with grief or loss but I feel that it even teachs us, as adults, how to communicate with children in an every day conversation. During the first 7 chapters the authors focus on the myths that we as adults communicate to our children, and inturn see the myths that were communicated to us as children. Everyone at some point in their life will deal with loss/grief of some sort and also helping someone they love deal with loss/grief. We all must be equipted with the knowledge of how to do this effectivly. This book is an easy reading book that at anytime can be pulled off your home library shelf and put to good use.
Rating:
Summary: The most useful book to assit children adjust to change.
Review: As a Mental Health Professional and specialist in the field of grief, I was asked to review the final manuscript of 'When Children Grieve.' In all honesty I could not put it down. It is easy to read, warm, truthful,and above all practical. Finally a book that tells you exactly what to do and why. I had the opportunity to use the information in 'When Children Grieve' with a group of boys ages 12-16 who were labeled 'behavioral/emotional' problems within the public school system. The results were incredible. It certainly reinforced the 'truths' of this book. If we taught our children these principles we would not have all the 'Columbine's' and 'Post Office' traumas that are frequently on the evening news. As a mother, I only wish I had this book when my children were young. I believe 'When Children Grieve' should be in the hands of EVERY person who encounters children both professionally and socially.
Rating:
Summary: One Heart at a Time
Review: As the authors of this book, we are thrilled with the fact that over time, millions of young people's lives will be positively affected by the ideas presented here. Although we wrote the book in about a year, it was really a cumulative 45 years in the making - combining the time that the three of us have spent helping parents and others help children deal with loss. We want to share with our potential readers this quote which will appear on the cover of the second printing of WHEN CHILDREN GRIEVE: "There isn't anyone in life who hasn't experienced some kind of loss. It's comforting to know that we are not alone in our sadness and that practical, easy-to-read, thoughtful help is available by way of Russell Friedman, John James, and Leslie Landon Matthews' gentle insights on the pages of WHEN CHILDREN GRIEVE. Thank you, Neighbors, for your obvious care." FRED ROGERS, PRODUCER/HOST, MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD and Honorary Chairman of The Caring Place, a center for grieving children, adolescents, and their families. We thank Fred Rogers for his vote of confidence that the contents of our book are safe and helpful for you and your children. From our hearts to you and your children, with love, Russell Friedman, John W. James, and Dr. Leslie Landon Matthews
Rating: 
Summary: Children's Grievances Matter
Review: Everyone deals with grief at some point. "When Children Grieve" by John James and Russell Friedman is an amazingly helpful book. After the recent death of a dear friend, I needed help in understanding grief from a child's perspective. This easy to read book explains that it's healthy to grieve, and that adults need to allow children time to heal. "Children need to feel bad when their hearts are broken. Adults should never try to fix a child's loss."
Also, the book explains that grief doesn't just come from death, but instead can be motivated by divorce, pet loss, moving and even a parent's job loss. Grief stems from sudden change in ritualistic behavior. As adults, it is our role to facilitate the child's emotions by helping them discover "undelivered communications." This book teaches adults how to reach out to children and guide them through difficult times. It's a must read for all parents who want to encourage emotional growth and mental wellbeing in their children.
Rating:
Summary: Children's Grievances Matter
Review: Everyone deals with grief at some point. "When Children Grieve" by John James and Russell Friedman is an amazingly helpful book. After the recent death of a dear friend, I needed help in understanding grief from a child's perspective. This easy to read book explains that it's healthy to grieve, and that adults need to allow children time to heal. "Children need to feel bad when their hearts are broken. Adults should never try to fix a child's loss."
Also, the book explains that grief doesn't just come from death, but instead can be motivated by divorce, pet loss, moving and even a parent's job loss. Grief stems from sudden change in ritualistic behavior. As adults, it is our role to facilitate the child's emotions by helping them discover "undelivered communications." This book teaches adults how to reach out to children and guide them through difficult times. It's a must read for all parents who want to encourage emotional growth and mental wellbeing in their children.
Rating:
Summary: Written With Gentle, Healing Hands
Review: I am a conservative, grumpy, old, Lutheran pastor, vehemently opposed to all things "New Age." I despise the fads of pop-psychology. "Touchy-Feely" advice from so-called experts, who demand exorbitant fees, often makes me want to wretch. So, I approached this book filled with trepidation. There was no need for my concerned. Writing with extraordinary gentleness and common sense Mr. James, Mr. Friedman and Dr. Matthews have provided adults with an invaluable outline on how to shepherd the children in their lives through loss, grief and recovery. Every parent, grandparent, teacher, pastor, priest, rabbi, nurse or physician who expects the children in their lives to suffer the death of a pet, suffer the death of a relative, move or endure a divorce will benefit from reading this book. Do yourself a favor. Read this book for the sake of the children whom you love. It is well worth the investment of your time. Then, do yourself a second favor, and place a copy of this book in your church, synagogue or public library for the others who will grow by reading it.
Rating:
Summary: Written With Gentle, Healing Hands
Review: I am a conservative, grumpy, old, Lutheran pastor, vehemently opposed to all things "New Age." I despise the fads of pop-psychology. "Touchy-Feely" advice from so-called experts, who demand exorbitant fees, often makes me want to wretch. So, I approached this book filled with trepidation. There was no need for my concerned. Writing with extraordinary gentleness and common sense Mr. James, Mr. Friedman and Dr. Matthews have provided adults with an invaluable outline on how to shepherd the children in their lives through loss, grief and recovery. Every parent, grandparent, teacher, pastor, priest, rabbi, nurse or physician who expects the children in their lives to suffer the death of a pet, suffer the death of a relative, move or endure a divorce will benefit from reading this book. Do yourself a favor. Read this book for the sake of the children whom you love. It is well worth the investment of your time. Then, do yourself a second favor, and place a copy of this book in your church, synagogue or public library for the others who will grow by reading it.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but incomplete for my purposes
Review: I purchased this book knowing that we'd be moving soon, and knowing it would be my young daughter's first significant loss. I found that the book was very helpful in many ways, but since it advertised dealing with moving as well as death and divorce, I expected more than 8 pages dedicated to it out of ~250. I also felt that, while there was plenty of practical advice for helping children grieve after a death, there was very little in regards to moving. The authors preferred to fall back on "the child will know what's appropriate" rather than giving some age-range guidelines helping parents think about potential difficult issues. (I felt much the same way in their discussion about divorce - having been a child of divorce and seeing how that transpired.) All-in-all, I would recommend this book for general grief information and specifically to help a child deal with death, but I'm still looking for a better book about how to help a small child deal with moving.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but incomplete for my purposes
Review: I read parts of this book outloud at the dinner table. It intrigued my nine year old daughter so much SHE started reading it. She came into my bedroom shocked one day and said, "Mom get this...did you know some parents don't use the word dead or died around their children? Instead, they spell the word. Isn't that crazy?" "Yes it is crazy", I replied. This book is a god send. As a family we were all there when our dog of 13 years died. We cried, shared memories,laughed and said good bye. It was a perfect experience for our family and my nine year old and six year old were a part of it. Loss is an opportunity for growth...this book helps us with that.
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