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Grief is a natural response to loss, and it can be a challenging experience for both children and adults. Coping with grief is a process that takes time, patience, and support. For children, it can be especially difficult to understand and express their emotions during this time. In this blog, I'll discuss how children cope with grief and what parents can do to support them. Expressing Emotions Children may express their grief through a range of emotions such as sadness, anger, confusion, and fear. It's important to allow children to express their emotions freely and to listen to what they have to say without judgment. Encourage them to express their feelings through art, writing, or talking to someone they trust. Understanding Death Children's understanding of death depends on their age and development. Younger children may not understand that death is permanent or may have a magical thinking that the person will come back. Older children may understand the permanence of death, but may struggle with the finality of the loss. It's important to talk to children about death in a way that is appropriate for their age and understanding. Maintaining Routines Maintaining a routine can be helpful for children who are coping with grief. Routines provide structure and predictability, which can help children feel more secure and stable during a difficult time. Parents can try to maintain normal activities such as going to school, participating in extracurricular activities, and spending time with friends and family. Seeking Support Seeking support from family, friends, or a professional can be beneficial for children who are coping with grief. Children may benefit from talking to a therapist who specialises in grief counselling or attending a support group with other children who have experienced a similar loss. Honouring the Memory Honouring the memory of the person who has died can be a meaningful way for children to cope with their grief. Parents can encourage children to create a memory book, plant a tree or a garden, or make a special craft or drawing to honour the person's memory. It's important to involve children in the process and allow them to contribute their ideas. Celebrate their lives by sharing stories and memories with others, looking at photos, or creating a memory book. Remembering the happy times can help you find comfort and support during this difficult time. In conclusion, coping with grief is a challenging process for both children and adults. Children may express their emotions in a range of ways, struggle to understand death, benefit from maintaining routines, seek support, and find comfort in honoring the memory of the person who passed away. Parents can support their children by being patient, understanding, and providing them with opportunities to express themselves and seek support. With time and support, children can learn to cope with their grief and find a path forward.   Useful websites and resources to explore: Winstons Wish - Giving hope to bereaved children Activities for bereaved children and young people | Download for free | Winston's Wish ( winstonswish.org ) . Telephone: 08088 020 021. The Laura Centre Creative Activities for Bereaved Children & Young People ( thelauracentre.org.uk ) . Nelson's Journey (App) Nelson's Journey App: Smiles and Tears | AtaLoss.org Books When Dinosaurs Die – A Guide To Understanding Death , Laurie Krasny Brown & Marc Brown I Miss You – A First Look At Death, Pat Thomas  The Memory Tree , Britta Teckentrup  The Huge Bag Of Worries , Virginia Ironside  The Crab & The Whale , Mark Pallis & Christiane Kerr

Firstly - What is the high five habit? The High Five Habit is a personal development technique created by Mel Robbins, a motivational speaker, author, and life coach. The High Five Habit is a simple, yet powerful technique that can help you to build self-confidence, overcome self-doubt, and improve your mental and emotional well-being. The technique involves physically giving yourself a high-five while repeating a positive affirmation or mantra. This action sends a signal to your brain that you have accomplished something, which can help to boost your confidence and motivation. The High Five Habit is a quick and easy technique that can be done anywhere, anytime. It can also help you to overcome negative self-talk, increase your confidence, and build resilience. The 'High Five Habit' consists of five steps: Choose a mantra or affirmation: Choose a positive statement that resonates with you and aligns with your goals or values. This could be something as simple as "I am capable" or "I am enough". Set a reminder: Set a reminder on your phone or computer to do the High Five Habit at regular intervals throughout the day. This could be every hour, every time you complete a task, or whenever you need a boost of confidence. Give yourself a high-five: Physically give yourself a high-five by slapping your hand against your opposite palm. This physical action helps to anchor the positive affirmation in your mind. Try doing it in front of a mirror and 'high fiving' the mirror! Say the affirmation: While giving yourself a high-five, repeat your chosen mantra or affirmation out loud or in your mind. This helps to reinforce the positive message to your brain. Smile: Finish the High Five Habit by smiling, which can help to improve your mood and reinforce positive emotions. How would the high five habit help those working in Early Years? The High Five Habit could be a beneficial technique for those working in early years settings and here are a few ways it could help: Boost confidence: Working with young children can be challenging, and it's easy to doubt yourself and your abilities. By practicing the High Five Habit, educators can give themselves a quick confidence boost throughout the day. The physical action of giving yourself a high-five, combined with a positive affirmation, can help to build self-confidence and self-belief. Improve resilience: Educators need to be resilient to cope with the demands of their job. The High Five Habit can help to build resilience by reinforcing positive thinking and providing a quick pick-me-up when things get tough. Enhance well-being: The High Five Habit can improve overall well-being by promoting positive emotions and reducing stress levels. By taking a moment to give yourself a high-five and repeat a positive affirmation, educators can shift their mindset and focus on the positives in their day. Model positive behaviour: Early years educators are role models for the children in their care. By practicing the High Five Habit, educators can model positive behaviour and demonstrate the importance of self-care and positive thinking to the children they work with. In summary, the High Five Habit could be a useful technique for early years practitioners to boost confidence, build resilience, enhance well-being, and model positive behaviour to the children in their care in a fun way!. Have fun and try it today! Sharon X

Building a strong partnership with parents is essential for any early years setting. A strong parent partnership can enhance a child's learning and development and also create a positive and supportive environment for everyone involved. Here are my tips on how to improve parent partnership in your early years setting: Build Trust: Building trust with parents and carers is crucial. Ensure you are open and honest with them about their child's development and progress. Communicate regularly and ensure they feel heard and valued. Regularly ask for their feedback and take it on board. Use a range of communication methods: Parents and Carers have different preferences when it comes to communication. Some prefer face-to-face conversations, while others may prefer email or phone calls. Utilise a range of communication methods to ensure you are meeting the needs of all parents. Involve parents in the learning process: Encourage parents and carers to get involved in their child's learning journey. Invite them to attend parent-teacher conferences and share observations and assessments with them regularly. Provide them with ideas and resources to support their child's learning at home. Research shows that children whose parents are involved in their education achieve better academic outcomes, have better social skills, and are more confident and resilient. When parents are engaged in their child's early years setting, they can better understand their child's needs and preferences and work together with educators to create a supportive learning environment. Host parent workshops and events: Hosting workshops and events can be an effective way to build relationships with parents and carers. You could host events such as parent-teacher evenings, curriculum workshops, or family fun days. These events can provide opportunities for parents to ask questions, share ideas, and learn more about your setting. Create a welcoming environment: Ensure your setting is warm and welcoming to parents and carers. Create a space where they feel comfortable and invited to engage in their child's learning. Display children's artwork and photos, provide comfortable seating, and offer refreshments. Collaborate with parents: Collaborate with parents and carers to plan and implement activities and events. Involve them in decision-making processes and encourage their input. This can help to foster a sense of ownership and partnership in the setting. Parental involvement can also support the development of positive behaviours in children. When parents and educators work together to set consistent expectations and reinforce positive behaviours, children are more likely to display positive behaviours in the early years setting and at home. Keep parents informed: Keep parents and carers informed about what is happening in the setting. Share newsletters, updates, and important information about policies and procedures. Ensure parents are aware of any changes and developments. When parents are regularly updated about their child's progress and development, they feel valued and heard. This can improve the relationship between parents and educators and create a more collaborative and supportive environment. In conclusion, improving parent partnership in your early years setting requires effort and commitment. By building trust, using a range of communication methods, involving parents in the learning process, hosting workshops and events, creating a welcoming environment, collaborating with parents, and keeping them informed, you can create a positive and supportive environment that promotes children's learning and development. When parents and carers feel welcomed and valued into the early years setting, they are more likely to attend events and become involved in other aspects of the setting's life. This can lead to a more engaged and supportive community that benefits both children and parents. With Gratitude, Sharon X