Maranda heads to Meijer with an expert on toys from Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital to see which toys are for the best ages to increase development.

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Last night my family got our home ready for Christmas, which is always an experience I look forward to. We put up our Christmas tree, hung up our stockings, and put the decorations on the door. I lit the cinnamon stick scented candle while we had holiday music playing in the background. We ended the evening with hot chocolate and kettle corn. It was a really great evening of family time and feeling connected with each other (and of course in the midst of all that there were the typical baby tantrums and sisterhood rivalry going on as well!!—I am definitely not exempt from these realities of family life). Whether laughing or crying, so many of the experiences of this season involve others who we feel connected to and close with.

While my family was enjoying our evening, I was also thinking about—odd as it may sound–grief. In the class I am teaching this semester, we focused our time today on children and the grief process. Planning for this topic has made me realize again how many children experience this season in such a difficult way, especially if they are grieving the loss of a parent, sibling, grandparent, or other family member.

Do you know of any child that might be having a difficult time this season due to grief? Maybe it’s a first anniversary of a death, past memories that can no longer be repeated, traditions that are missing an important someone. It is so important for children who are experiencing this to feel known—to feel that they can share their feelings and perhaps even honor the person they are missing in some tangible way.

A great resource that offers some practical insights and tips that can help you understand what children are going through and how you might be available to them is a blog that is run by a network of bereavement camps called Camp Erin. I encourage you to check it out for yourself or pass it along to someone who might find it helpful.

For more information on behavioral health issues, or to seek assistance, go to www.pinerest.org.

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If you’re worried about the current economic conditions and what it means for your family, chances are your kids are too.  Below are some tips for talking to your children about finances and how the current situation is affecting your family.

• Remember that kids live in a black and white world.  It’s a common reaction for people to joke about their economic predicament.  Unfortunately, kids don’t often understand the difference
  between a joke and reality and may literally think your family will end up on the streets even though you mean it in jest.
• Be honest.  Give your children a basic understanding of your financial situation, but only provide them the amount of information appropriate for their age.  Reassure them that while you may need to cut back in places, you’ll still be able to provide for their needs.
• Add context to financial conversations.  Showing older kids your monthly bills can help them gain a better understanding of your situation and identify ways they can contribute.  Seeing the actual bills and how you pay them is a good way to bring financial discussions to life.

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