There is an opportunity within schools to teach children about grief and bereavement, according to Stephen Teap.
The widowed father of two says grief is like a 'tsunami of emotions' for adults, but children have to deal with similar emotions.
Stephen's wife Irene died of cervical cancer in July 2017 at the age of 35.
At the time, their sons Oscar and Noah were just four and two.
Funeral directors in Scotland are currently calling for death and bereavement to be taught in schools, so children are better prepared for the emotions associated with loss.
Stephen told The Hard Shoulder it's grief rather than death that the conversation needs to be focused on when it comes to helping children process the topic.
He said: “Certainly it’s a topic I think should be spoken about more, and I do agree there is an opportunity there within the schools to do something with this.
"For any of us adults who have lost someone, we would know what grief is - for me, the simplest way to describe it is like a tsunami of emotions that literally floors us, and what we spend the time dealing with that tsunami is trying to figure out these emotions as we try to get back on our feet.
“That’s as an adult, who would have a better grasp of the world. When it comes to children… they deal with grief in the exact same way as us adults do. I’ve learned this dealing with my own children's grief."
'A topic none of us will be able to avoid'
For Stephen, one of the things he's noticed is his own sons' struggles to describe the emotions they feel.
Therefore, he believes it's important they have the tools to understand what happens when they lose someone.
Grief is something most children will have to face - while most won't lose a parent at a young age, they are likely to lose a grandparent or even a pet.
Stephen said it’s vital therefore to be able to have the necessary conversations, and to give children the opportunity to do so in a safe environment.
He observed: “For me, it’s really about giving everybody the tools - from the teachers to the pupils to the parents - in dealing with a topic none of us will be able to avoid.
“Definitely I think at a young age discussing emotions and feelings when it comes to grief or bereavement is certainly a good thing - it’s certainly a great thing in every aspect of life.”
