The Death of a Pet

Last season, we talked about the benefits of pets for our kids' mental health. That unconditional love helps our children build skills and navigate important life lessons. What we don't tend to think about, though, is that one day our pets will be gone. When that happens, do we try to shield our kids from the pain? Would it have been better not to have a pet at all?

In this episode of Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple, co-hosts Gene and Steve kick off our new season in celebration of our furry (and non-furry!) friends. They point out that while losing a pet is really, really sad, it doesn't have to be grim. And even after they're gone, our pets can help to guide our children through one of the biggest challenges we all face at some point in our lives: the loss of a loved one.

Thank you for joining us in this journey and conversation. If you have a question or comment about pets that we didn't cover, we’d love to hear from you! Write to us.

Media List

• Shrinking It Down, The Importance of Pets (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)
• How to Manage, and Help Your Kids Cope, When the Family Dog Dies (Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds)
• When Your Dog Dies: Reflections on Losing a Best Friend (Psychology Today)
• The Pain of Losing a Pet (Psychology Today)

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The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds is a free, practical, online educational resource dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing of young people.

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