"Very young children are deeply affected if a member of their immediatefamily dies, but this is not always understood," said Terry Wragg,co-director at Leeds Animation Workshop. The workshop was commissionedby the Department for Education and Skills' Parenting Fund to produceNot Too Young To Grieve in partnership with the Childhood BereavementNetwork, Cope: The Laura Centre, and the University of Leicester schoolof education.
"Because babies and toddlers can't talk, they express their feelings inother ways. They may go off their food, be unable to sleep, or havetantrums. This can be experienced simply as 'difficult behaviour' byparents or carers - who in most cases will be grieving themselves. Butwith proper care and understanding, children can recover and learn todeal with the experience."
The DVD uses animation to show 10 situations involving parents andchildren.
It is being distributed through public library services, hospices andspecialist health teams, as well as via educationalists and othersworking with young children and their families.
The pack is also available on video and is suitable for groups orindividual families.
- The pack costs 40. Call 0113 248 4997 or emailinfo@leedsanimation.org.uk
NCB has received an excellent response to its recent membership survey.
