ABSTRACT

This study explores how daycare staff perceive children’s reactions to the illness and loss of a parent, the support needs of bereaved children, and the staff’s role as supporters. Data were generated through conducting focus groups with 23 employees from eight Danish daycare institutions. The study finds that staff focus on assisting children to open up about what has happened, process their grief, and reintegrate back into their respective daycare institutions in a positive manner. Most children displayed grief and sadness following the loss of a parent; reactions seem most pronounced when losses are unexpected. Many staff members go beyond what is widely assumed to be their core role during such times. This led to strong relationships between them and the bereaved children. While many parents often struggle following a loss, the support provided in daycare institutions can be both timely and well-suited to children’s individual needs.

摘要

本研究探讨日托工作人员如何看待儿童对疾病和失去父母的反应、失去亲人的儿童的支持需求以及工作人员作为支持者的角色。数据是通过与来自八个丹麦日托机构的 23 名员工进行焦点小组来生成的。该研究发现，工作人员专注于帮助孩子们敞开心扉，了解所发生的事情，处理他们的悲伤，并以积极的方式重新融入各自的日托机构。大多数孩子在失去父母后表现出悲伤和悲伤；当损失出乎意料时，反应似乎最为明显。在此期间，许多工作人员超越了人们普遍认为的核心角色。这导致他们与失去亲人的孩子之间建立了牢固的关系。虽然许多父母经常在失败后挣扎，