Tips from Winston’s Wish: Coping with the summer holidays with a grieving child

July 2025

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The summer holidays can be a difficult time for grieving families, children and young people. Losing the consistent routine of school or college can affect young people and their families, bringing up lots of different emotions. Holidaying alone as a widowed parent can also throw up situations that may heighten grief.

Our friends at childhood bereavement charity Winston’s Wish have shared some tips to help you and your child cope with your grief over the summer holidays.

Be prepared for lots of different emotions

There are lots of potential triggers during the summer holidays for your child. They don’t have their usual routine, or the distractions of school so may find their grief is heightened and their feelings are a bit all over the place. Going on holiday and seeing other families with two parents can stir up feelings of sadness, anger or jealousy for both them and for you. As a widowed parent, you might find solo travel difficult with the extra stress of planning everything and may feel that missing person more keenly. This is all completely normal! 

Talk openly about your feelings

You may find both you and your child tend to bottle up your feelings, so you don’t upset or ruin the holiday for the other. This doesn’t help! Talk openly with your child about how you are feeling and encourage them to talk about their feelings. Let them know it’s OK to have lots of different emotions. If they don’t want to talk to you, encourage them to talk to a trusted adult or they could speak to the Winston’s Wish bereavement support workers.

Acknowledge that things are different now

The summer holidays without your important person won’t be the same as it was before for you or your child. Maybe you have less money to spend on a holiday or days out. Maybe your child has to be with other family members, playdates with friends or at summer clubs because you have to work. Talk to your child about this and explain how things are different, maybe involve them in planning what they will be doing. This can give them a feeling of control and stop them worrying as much.

Take the pressure off

Things are different now. Don’t put pressure on yourself to organise the perfect holiday or feel that you have to enjoy every single minute. There will be stressful moments, but holidays can be a precious time for making memories with your child. It doesn’t matter if it’s not exactly how it would have been before or if you can’t afford the holidays you had previously, just enjoy spending time together and making new memories.

Give yourselves permission to have fun

Give yourself and your child permission to enjoy your holiday and time together. When you’re grieving, you may feel guilty for laughing and enjoying yourself. But having fun doesn’t mean you aren’t grieving or have forgotten your special person. You don’t have to be sad all the time, it’s also important to make new happy memories with those around you.

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About Winston’s Wish

Winston’s Wish is a charity that helps children, teenagers and young adults (up to the age of 25) find their feet when their worlds are turned upside down by grief.

If you are an adult supporting a bereaved child or young person who is struggling with their grief, you can call Winston’s Wish on 08088 020 021, email ask@winstonswish.org or use the live chat on their website winstonswish.org (all available 8am-8pm, weekdays). They will be able to offer guidance, information and support. 

For out of hours mental health support, text WW to 85258 to speak with someone from our trusted partner, Shout. For urgent support in a crisis, please call 999.