An early childhood professional

      Imagine you are working in an early childhood setting that cares for and teaches children ages 0–5. Two families in your program share a grandmother who has been an active and loving caregiver for their children—an infant, a toddler, and a preschooler. The grandmother has recently passed away and you want to support these families by helping them understand how infants, toddlers, and preschoolers grieve in order to help the children with this loss. Before you create your Action Plan, consider: What does an early childhood professional need to know in order to understand the situation and needs of these children and families? What ideas and advice from experts may be useful in assisting children and families? What can early childhood professionals do to help, either directly, by suggesting activities and advice, or by referring the family to other community resources and professionals?