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New Jersey is now requiring grief instruction for teens in public schools. Here’s why that matters.

Grief and loss are experiences we will inevitably all encounter; and now the state of New Jersey is trying to ensure that more young people are prepared for it. On Jan. 4, N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law bipartisan legislation requiring the state’s public schools to incorporate instruction on grief into health and physical education classes for students in grades eight to 12.

“Grief can be a debilitating experience that lasts a lifetime when not addressed properly,” Murphy said. “It is my hope that prioritizing the teaching of grief and loss in schools will provide students with the tools and resources they need to cope with the challenges of life.”

Why teaching teens about grief matters

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, about 90% of children experience the death of a close friend or family member during their childhood. That’s why Dr. David Schonfeld, director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, tells Yahoo Life that instruction on grief should start even earlier — but eighth grade is “better late than never.”

“I'm not necessarily suggesting it has to be a formal curriculum in kindergarten,” he says. “But if there is open conversation and discussion, kids learn it's OK to have feelings that are strong when someone dies, and they figure out what they can do — both to help themselves and help others.”

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https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/new-jersey-is-now-requiring-grief-instruction-for-teens-in-public-schools-heres-why-that-matters-140026558.html

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