Beyond the Innocence of Childhood

Death is not a mere possibility but a certainty for all of us. Yet, today's society unrealistically portrays childhood as a time of unremittant joy and freedom. Unfortunately, the reality of life may suddenly bring children face to face with tragic circumstances such as the death of their pet, the terminal illness of their parent, their own struggle with life-threatening disease, the accidental death of their sibling, or the suicide of a friend. The gravity of any of these situations takes children beyond the innocence of childhood and plunges them into a world that is frightening and full of uncertainty. Unfortunately, our perceptions and attitudes toward death do not equip children with the tools to help them cope adequately with such overwhelming experiences. Beyond the Innocence of Childhood is a collection of forty chapters which are divided into three separate volumes. The overall purpose of this series is to answer the question: How do we as educators, clinicians, other professionals, and parents help children and adolescents deal with threat to their lives, dying, death, and bereavement? In this three volume set the editors have brought together a number of well-known educators, researchers, and practitioners who share their knowledge and expertise concerning the care and well-being of children and adolescents. Specific to Volume 2 The first part of the second volume of Beyond the Innocence of Childhood focuses on the difficulties and challenges that children and adolescents must face as they try to cope with life-threatening illness or attempted suicide. Therapeutic techniques are explained and useful intervention strategies are offered to health care providers and other professionals. Highlights of this section include: The use of art Storytelling Music therapy Therapeutic play Benefits of humor and laughter Pets as a source of empowerment Camps as a therapeutic adjunct Etiology and treatment of suicidal adolescents Suffering imposed by life-threatening illness The second part of this volume directly addresses the world of dying children and families whose lives are permanently changed and filled with difficult emotions and formidable challenges. A comprehensive review of factors which influence the dying process and useful guidelines for intervention are provided for caregivers, other professionals, and parents. Features of this section include: Palliative care Hospital care versus home care Lessons from dying adolescents Therapeutic imagery for pain control Truthtelling Influence of spirituality Developing a children's hospice Storytelling and reading resource