A major task for grieving families is to maintain their functionality and support stability among its members.  Following are some suggestions to assist families:

• Maintain the order of the day (such as meals and bedtimes) as much as possible.
• Provide time to answer the children’s questions and encourage them to ask questions.
• Be alert to some regression in younger children:
  • forgetting how to dress
  • stuttering or thumb sucking
  • clinging behavior
• Children respond to the behavior of parents and other adults.
• Most children over 4 years of age look forward to being included in the funeral.
• Allow children to observe the parent’s grief