How to Talk to Your Kids about Grief
"I hope this is a book of hope, not heartbreak." — Jenny Robinson Clark
Episode Description:
How do you talk to children about grief without taking away their sense of wonder?
In this heartfelt conversation on How to Talk to Kids About Anything, parenting expert Dr. Robyn Silverman welcomes Jenny Robinson Clark to discuss helping children navigate loss with honesty, hope, and love. Inspired by the passing of her mother and the creation of her children's book Are You Here?, Jenny shares how families can have age-appropriate conversations about grief while embracing the idea that love and connection continue long after someone is gone.
Together, they explore:
How to talk to children about death in an honest, comforting way
Why children benefit from open conversations about grief
The role of signs, memories, and connection in the healing process
Helping families replace fear with hope after loss
How Are You Here? encourages meaningful conversations between parents and children
Whether you're a parent, grandparent, educator, therapist, or caregiver, this episode offers practical guidance and reassurance for supporting children through grief while celebrating the enduring bonds of love that never truly disappear.
MEMORABLE QUOTES:
On grief & hope:
"I don't want anyone to stay stuck in grief that isn't serving them. There's still so much life to live, so much joy to experience, and our loved ones would want that for us."
"Sometimes all we need is a spark of belief, a flash of hope, and a little peace."
On parenting:
"Have the conversations. Even the difficult conversations about death and grief. They only strengthen the bond between you and your child."
"Children are naturally curious. They're not afraid to ask the hard questions—we're often the ones who are afraid to answer them."
"I wish I had been able to ask those questions out loud as a child instead of sitting alone with my fears."
"When we don't talk about difficult things, children often fill in the blanks themselves."
On memories:
"Talking about our loved ones keeps them close. Every memory becomes another way to stay connected."
"Whenever we see a ladybug, my children say, 'Gigi's here.' We stop, we smile, and we remember her together."
"It doesn't have to be signs in nature. It can be a favorite recipe, a song, or a tradition—anything that reminds you of someone you love."
On emotions:
"Our children need to see that grief includes many emotions. When we allow ourselves to feel them, we give our children permission to feel them too."
"I tell my children, 'I miss my mom. I wish she were physically here. But I still know she's with me.'"
"This book became the conversation I wish I'd had as a little girl."
On emotions:
"This message healed me so deeply that I felt I would be doing a disservice if I didn't share it."
"I realized this wasn't just my story anymore. It was something that could help other families."
ABOUT THE HOST
Known as the “Conversation Doc,” Dr. Robyn Silverman focuses on helping parents, educators, and mentors build character, confidence, and competence in children. She holds a PhD and regularly appears as a parenting expert on national television and radio, including Good Morning America and The Today Show. She helps parents have tough convos with their kids with tips & scripts. Her bestselling parenting book How to Talk to Kids has expanded to this podcast with over 3 million downloads on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Follow her on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube
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