New book aims to help children cope with grief

By Staff Writer

Approximately 40,000 women die each year from breast cancer in the U.S., which means a lot of young children lose their mothers.

According to news affiliate CBS 4 out of Miami, a book called "Close to My Heart: A Guided Workbook for Children After a Loved One Has Died" has been published in order to help kids who are coping with loss. The book was written by Regen Foley, whose father died of brain cancer when she was 10 years old.

A school guidance counselor told the news provider that she uses the book to assist children who have lost a family member. She said that the methods recommended in the book can help children recall special memories with the person and identify something they wish they had said to the individual.

She added that the book helps empower children by allowing them to ask questions about things they don't understand about death. Although it is a very emotional time for a child, the book says that it is important that kids have their questions answered instead of avoiding the topic.

In the weeks immediately following the death of a loved one, a child often experiences disturbing thoughts, such as overwhelming fear of the unknown and of the future, according to a doctor's opinion on Scholastic.com.