When a parent dies a child grieves, not like an adult grieves, but off and on, and for a much longer time... Losing a parent is hard at any age, but it's traumatic for a child. Since children don't have the coping skills to deal with death, their natural tendency is avoidance---to suppress feelings of sadness, fear and confusion, especially around the surviving parent. Unfortunately, a child's unexpressed grief can lead to long-term emotional and behavior problems, including chronic depression.

Children shouldn't have to grieve alone.

In our society, losing a parent through death is a rare occurrence for a child under age 15. And because it is rare , it can also be embarrassing, causing a child to feel painfully different at a time when conformity and peer acceptance are all-important. Those feelings of embarrassment make it even harder to face the loss. Those who face it the best are those lucky enough to encounter other children who are experiencing the same thing Nobody's alone at charlie brown's kids.

Every one of charlie brown's kids knows what it's like to have a parent die. It's the one thing they all have in common. At charlie brown's, kids can share their feelings with one another in a way they can't share them with their surviving parent, teachers, or other adult relatives or friends..in a way they can't even share them with their own friends who have not experienced the same kind of loss.

A "good grief" experience.

Charlie brown's is a kid's support group that's all about good grief. Here group leaders and supportive volunteers help children express the sadness, guilt, fear and anger that are natural reactions to the death of a parent. They also guide the children toward acceptance of the death, helping them capture and preserve memories of their parents through discussion, art, writing and storytelling. A parent's support group too.

Charlie brown's kids can be a healing place for surviving parents, too. While the children are meeting, parents get together in a separate area to share feelings and gain support from others in their same situation. Kids who've had a parent die need charile brown's kids.
a free non-profit support group for children 3 to 16 who have experienced the death of a parent.
led by experienced, qualified volunteers.
meetings held at Sheridan Lutheran Church, 6955 Old Cheney Road. The 1st and 3rd thursday of each month, 6 to 8 p.m.(bring your brown bag supper)
an organization completely supported by the generous contributions of private individuals, businesses and organizations.

The sooner, the better.

Charlie brown's kids, is prepared to provide the comfort and support a grieving child needs in the days immediately following the death of a parent. The sooner you can introduce a grieving child to charlie brown's the sooner the healing can begin.

To refer a child, to become a charlie brown's kids volunteer, or for more information about the group, call 483-1845

Charlie Brown's Kids
P.O. Box 67106
Lincoln NE 68512
402-483-1845