Help for primary school pupils

Coping with a sudden and upsetting event - what might help

Everyone reacts to upsetting events in a slightly different way and each person finds that there are different things that can help. Some of these suggestions may help you.

You could:

• Talk to someone
• Do a fun activity
• Think of a safe way to let out your feeling e.g. thumping a pillow or running really fast
• Write or draw

Who can I talk to?

Your feelings may be so sad that it may be difficult to talk to someone but sometimes it can be helpful to talk to somebody about how you are feeling. People you might want to talk to:

• Parents/carers
• Brothers or sisters
• Grandparents, aunts or uncles
• Friends

Special ways to remember someone

If someone has died, everyone reacts in a different way, and that’s O.K. Remember that you can still laugh and have fun. It may be helpful to think of a special way to remember the person who has died:

• Make a special book about the person
• Frame special photographs
• Write a story, letter or poem
• Plant a tree or a flower
• Paint or draw a picture