Practical Childcare Tasks a Family When a Parent Dies

When a parent dies and is survived by a spouse and children, the family may need help with various childcare-related tasks. It’s essential to ask them how you can best help support them and their children during this time—remembering to respect their wishes. Here are some practical needs you could suggest regarding helping with childcare.

• Supervision – The surviving parent may be dealing with grief and need help supervising the children, especially young ones. Sometimes grievers prefer if this is in their home, but may request that it be done outside their home.
• Emotional Support – Children may struggle with losing a parent and need help processing their feelings.
• Homework / Tutoring Help – Children may need help with homework, tutoring and other school-related tasks. They may even need someone to reach out the child’s school teachers and administrators and let them know about the current circumstances.
• Transportation – The family may need help getting the children to and from school, extracurricular activities, and other appointments. This would be a great place for families and neighbors of the children’s friends to link-up with carpools.
• Childcare – The family may need help with childcare, especially if the deceased parent was the primary caregiver. You could call around local childcare facilities, gathering information such as openings and financial costs.
• Meal Preparation – The family may need help preparing meals for the children or arranging meal delivery services or gift cards to local restaurants.
• Entertainment – Children may need help with entertainment and activities, especially if the deceased parent was responsible for this.
• Medical Appointments – The family may need help getting the children to and from medical appointments, especially if the deceased parent was responsible for this.
• Legal or Financial Help – This could be gathering all the needed documents for probating a will or transferring funds or closing bank accounts to benefits, social security for the children.
• Funeral or Memorial Service Arrangements – This could include all the practical aspects of making funeral arrangements and seeing if the child wants to participate. If not, find childcare during the service.

Everyone grieves differently and may not want the same level of help you’re willing to provide. And that’s ok. It’s essential to reach out and ask how you can help. But also understand that sometimes help can look like just having your presence or allowing them to verbalize their grief.