Listen with your heart, not your head: Allow all emotions to be expressed, without judgement, criticism or analysis.
Recognize that grief is emotional not intellectual: Avoid the trap of asking your child "what's wrong?" for he/she will most likely automatically say "Nothing".
Adults Go First: Telling the truth about your own grief will help your child feel safe in opening up about his/her own feelings.
Remember that each child is unique and each child has a unique relationship to the loss event. This includes siblings.
Be Patient: Don't ever force your child to talk before he/she is ready.
Never say "Don't feel sad" or "Don't feel scared": Sadness & fear, the two most common feelings attached to loss of any kind, are essential emotions & must be safe to express honestly.
courtesy of The Grief Recovery Institute