What Is a Grief Storm? Understanding Your Child’s Emotional Weather
What Is a Grief Storm? Understanding Your Child’s Emotional Weather
Naming your child’s grief storm helps you know what conversations work best, how they release feelings, and how you can guide them through loss.
For: Parents, grandparents, caregivers navigating a child’s grief
What you’ll learn: How grief storms show up in kids + how to respond
Read time: 6 minutes
Intro
Grief doesn’t show up in children the same way it does in adults. While we may sit with sorrow for long stretches, kids often move in and out of big feelings quickly—like the weather. That’s why I call these moments grief storms. Once you know your child’s storm type, you’ll understand their behaviors, what helps calm them, and how to guide them through grief with more confidence.
👉 Take the free quiz to discover your child’s grief storm: griefstormquiz.com
What’s Going On Under the Surface
After working with children and families for 20+ years, I’ve seen nearly everyone experience loss in some form. Adults understand the depth and permanence of death—kids don’t. Instead, they pop in and out of their grief. Their storms can appear suddenly, be overwhelming, and fade as quickly as they arrived.
Signs You Might Notice
Sudden outbursts of anger or sadness
Clinging behaviors or separation anxiety
Laughter one moment, tears the next
Kids can’t always articulate what’s happening. Recognizing a grief storm helps you make sense of these behaviors instead of feeling blindsided.
A Gentle Framework You Can Use Today
Grief storms are ever‑changing, just like the weather. Here’s how you can respond:
Name the storm. Use language like: “It feels like you’re in a big rainstorm right now.” This helps kids externalize the emotion.
Predict patterns. Notice what triggers storms—bedtime, transitions, holidays—and prepare gentle rituals for those times.
Anchor yourself. Stay calm, grounded, and regulated. Your child feels safer when you model steadiness.
Offer tools. Simple options like drawing, journaling, or movement give kids a way to release emotions.
When parents learn to guide their child through storms, kids feel less fearful and more secure knowing they aren’t alone.
Conversation Script
You: “I see that big storm of feelings. I’m here with you until it passes.”
Child: “I feel mad and sad, but I don’t know why.”
You: “That’s okay. Feelings come and go like weather. Let’s breathe together until it eases.”
Common Questions
Try This Now
Want to know your child’s grief storm type?
👉 Take the Grief Storm Quiz and find out today. Share your child’s storm type with me—I’d love to hear if it resonates with your experience.
Or, if you’d like deeper support:
Join the Beneath Her Story Journal Membership for monthly guided rituals
Download the free Grief Guides for parents
Resources & References
About Dr. Annette
I’m Annette Athy, PhD—grief specialist and mom of four. I help parents understand and navigate their children’s grief storms with compassion, truth, and practical tools. Want gentle guidance in your inbox? Subscribe here.
