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Difficulty: MediumGrief and Loss

A licensed practical nurse (LPN) in a pediatric clinic is reinforcing teaching with the parents of an 8-year-old child whose sibling recently died. Which of the following behaviors or statements by the child should the LPN explain are expected developmental responses to grief for this age group? Select all that apply.

  1. Asking specific questions about what happens to a person's physical body after they dieAnswer
  2. B
    Believing that a recent argument magically caused the sibling to die
  3. Displaying sudden aggressive behaviors and experiencing a drop in academic performanceAnswer
  4. D
    Stating that the sibling is just sleeping and will come back home next week
  5. Expressing intense anxiety and fear that their parents might also become sick and dieAnswer
  6. F
    Moving rapidly and permanently through the stages of grief without any regression

Answer

The expected developmental responses for an 8-year-old include asking specific questions about physical body changes, displaying aggressive behaviors with a drop in academic performance, and expressing fear that their parents might also die.
School-age children (ages 6 to 12) have developed the cognitive ability to understand that death is permanent, irreversible, and universal. Because they recognize the finality of death, they often fear that other loved ones, such as their parents, might also become sick and die. Their growing logical thought process leads to a factual curiosity about the biological and physical aspects of what happens to the body after death. Additionally, children in this age group may have difficulty verbalizing their complex emotions, often expressing their grief through behavioral changes, such as aggression, acting out, or experiencing a sudden decline in academic performance.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the developmental stage of the client's child.
The child is 8 years old, which falls into the school-age developmental stage.
Understanding of death evolves with cognitive development, making chronological age a critical factor in assessing normal grief responses.
2
Recall the characteristics of a school-age child's understanding of death.
School-age children understand that death is permanent, universal, and irreversible. They often display curiosity about the physical aspects of death and may act out their grief behaviorally rather than verbally.
This knowledge allows the nurse to differentiate normal developmental grief from regressive behaviors or prolonged complications.
3
Evaluate each option against school-age developmental milestones.
Interest in the physical body, fear of others dying, and behavioral changes are expected at this age. Magical thinking and believing death is temporary are preschool concepts.
Selecting the expected behaviors ensures the LPN reinforces accurate, developmentally appropriate information to the grieving parents.

Key Concept

Developmental understanding of grief in school-age children
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Grief and Loss

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