Home support for families expert advice how to support bereaved siblings

It is important to highlight that although our advice is based on the experience of our Family Support Workers, you know your child best and are therefore best equipped to make decisions to help them through their grief.


This article should be read as suggested advice, should you need it, not a list of rules or instructions to follow exactly. Every family and every individual grieve differently, so don’t be discouraged if your experiences do not align with others.

Supporting Bereaved Siblings

Explaining to a child that their sibling has died can be daunting for parents and carers. Approaches to this can vary depending on age, and circumstances surrounding the sibling’s death, but here are some points to remember when talking to your child about a death.

Explaining death to a sibling

Pre-bereavement

This is not possible in every circumstance, but beginning conversations surrounding death with your child can help them begin to understand death and what is likely to come. Start by talking to your child about what they already know. If they’ve experienced a loss before, this could be a grandparent or pet, then referring to these and the feelings surrounding it can help the child connect with emotions around grief. By having this conversation early, you are allowing your child to absorb the language and try to make sense of the situation.

The charity Winston’s Wish provides some great suggestions for books about death for children, you can read it here.

What are the facts?

As hard as it may be, the best thing you can do is be honest. Children require clear and digestible information, so try and be as succinct and age appropriate as possible. Try to avoid ambiguous language such as ‘pass away’ or ‘gone to sleep’ as this can be confusing to children. Using clear language such as ‘death’ and ‘dying’ is important to avoid any confusion and can help your child connect to feelings of loss. Try and talk about the practicalities of the loss and what it will mean, for example how their life or routines might be affected.

Create a space for questions

It is likely that your child may have many questions surrounding their sibling’s death or illness. Answer questions as clearly as possible, and as you feel appropriate. Children often have a way of asking very direct, fear-based questions, so creating a space where they can explore this is important. Also encourage them that they can ask you questions, or talk about it more, at any point and that the conversation doesn’t have to end there.

Be mindful of where you have this conversation. A neutral environment is a good option, for example a walk or to an external space. The space you have this conversation in will have an impact and you want their home/bedroom to remain a safe space away from this topic.

Comfort and reassurance

Though your child might not initially seek comfort, reassuring them that you love them and being on hand for physical comfort and support is important. Show compassion and understanding that this is just really sad and difficult. Keep an eye on your child and check in regularly – break boundaries if needed. Some children may seek this more than others, but making sure your child knows you are there for them can be hugely beneficial.

Should I show my emotion to my child?

How you display your feelings and emotions to your child can have a big impact on their own expression. Don't be afraid to show your emotions to them; your behaviour is impactful and can shape the way they might process future losses. It’s okay to cry and it’s important to let them know that feelings are okay. Being sad or angry is a normal reaction, and being able to vocalise this can help your child know it’s okay to talk about their feelings. Reassure them that they can come to you if they are feeling sad. But also emphasise that they have done nothing wrong – it is not them that is making you sad. Using clear language to explain your own feelings may help your child articulate theirs.

Should my child attend the funeral?

This can be a difficult decision for parents and carers. Funerals can seem like an unsuitable situation for a child and ultimately, it is up to you, knowing your own child’s needs and personality. It is important to think carefully about this and weigh up the potential pros and cons of your child attending. There can be positive results of children attending funerals of their siblings, especially if they are given the element of choice. Talking with them about what a funeral is, what it involves, and what it might look like based on your family’s culture and beliefs can help inform the child of their choice

A funeral can be a big part of the grieving process by seeing other people upset about the loss. This is important for the child to begin to express these emotions themselves. Some children may find it helpful to be part of the funeral planning. They can help choosing some music, or a poem to read - this can make them feel more involved and valued at a difficult time. If you/they do decide to attend the funeral, having some sort of escape or exit plan, if needed, can be helpful. For example, agreeing an ‘exit’ word with your child that they can say if they need to take some time for themselves can help reassure them that they can take a break if they need it. If needs be, plan with the child for a designated trusted person (could be a friend or family member) to help facilitate support by accompanying the child should they need to exit by perhaps sitting with them.

Responses to grief

Every child will react differently to grief, and it is important to note that the child’s personalities, history, and circumstances of death all impact a child’s behaviour.

Some children may become withdrawn or have depressed moods. Sleeping and nightmares can also be very common. Other children might not respond so immediately, they may carry on and seem uninterested. Grief does not always happen at the same time, so don’t worry if your child isn’t acting like you perhaps expected.

Many siblings feel ‘survivors’ guilt’. This is when the child feels guilty that they are the alive sibling, but it is not a reflection that this has been indicated by you as a parent or carer.

Helpful activities or ways of supporting your bereaved child

Maintaining routine

Maintaining a child’s routine can help ensure your child has a sense of stability when dealing with big emotions. Ensuring things like mealtimes, bedtimes, or activities they want to partake in, remain in place as much as possible can be beneficial. But always remember that activities they previously enjoyed may take a while to return to – they may have a lower capacity for a time.

1-1 time

Arranging a regular time when your child gets one-to-one time with you can be a good opportunity to check in with them and give them time to ask any questions or express any worries. This could be a monthly trip for dinner, or a weekly walk; whatever suits your child’s needs.

Sometimes, having a trusted adult that is slightly removed from the situation can be helpful for a child to offload some emotion. This could be a professional counsellor, or a trusted friend or family member that the child is familiar and comfortable with.

Remembering their sibling

Memory boxes can be a positive activity to help your child process their feelings and also to create something to allow them to look back on and reflect. Scrap books can also work well. Some children benefit from having a private journal where they can write down their feelings without worrying about saying them out loud – an agreement to respect this privacy helps the child to write freely without fear of sharing.

Use their siblings name and don’t shy away from recalling memories or talking about their dead sibling. Your child will love that you remember their sibling, and this will help normalise conversations around them. Visit places the sibling loved or look through photographs. Keep their memory alive.

More reassurance

Reassure your child that they are really loved, and they can talk to you. Give them comfort, but also remember they might want space to reflect sometimes as well. Acknowledge that losing their sibling does change family dynamics but remind them of all the things that are still the same. Some children may seek more re-assurance in this time, so picking up on their queues can be really helpful.

Sharing the loss

Inform relevant people in your child’s life of the death of their sibling. This could be school, or friends or important figures. Your child may not want to tell their peers themselves, so engaging in open communications surrounding this to decide how they want news to be shared is important. School may become a consistent in their lives and an escape from the death, but it is important that support is in place in this environment should they need it. The same goes for any activities or clubs they are part of. But be led by your child and try and help them make decisions surrounding this – this can help them keep an element of control amongst the grief.

However your child grieves, be patient. Everyone will express their feelings in their own way. Providing ongoing support and understanding throughout their grieving is the best thing you can do. You may not always get it right, and that’s okay. Always remember to look after yourself – take your time and encourage your child to as well.

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