For bereaved children and young people, Father’s Day can feel difficult long before the day itself arrives.

While much attention is given to anniversaries and special dates, the emotional impact often begins weeks beforehand. As reminders become more visible, many children become increasingly aware that a challenging day is approaching.

The lead-up to Father’s Day can bring anxiety, sadness, anger, confusion or emotional exhaustion for children grieving the death of a father or father figure. Sometimes, adults around them may not notice this build-up happening at all.

And yet, for many grieving children, it is the anticipation that feels hardest.

The Emotional Build-Up

In the weeks before Father’s Day, reminders can seem impossible to avoid.

Supermarket shelves fill with cards, gifts and “Best Dad” displays. Television adverts celebrate father-child relationships. Social media becomes saturated with family photos, gift ideas and messages of appreciation.

For a bereaved child, these reminders can trigger difficult thoughts and emotions long before Father’s Day arrives.

Even when they appear fine on the surface, children may be worrying about how they will feel on the day, whether people will mention it or how different they feel from their friends.

Psychologists sometimes refer to this as anticipatory anxiety – the worry and emotional distress that can arise when we know a difficult event is approaching. Significant dates such as Father’s Day can act as powerful grief triggers, bringing feelings of loss closer to the surface.

As a result, some children may become more withdrawn, irritable, distracted or emotionally sensitive in the days and weeks beforehand.

School Can Be a Source of Anxiety

For many children, school can become one of the biggest challenges in the lead-up to Father’s Day.

Card-making activities, assemblies, classroom discussions or gift projects may unintentionally leave bereaved children feeling isolated or exposed. Even well-meaning activities can highlight their loss in front of peers.

Some children may dread being asked:

• “What are you getting your dad?”
• “What are you doing for Father’s Day?”
• “Who are you making your card for?”

Others may feel pressure to take part as normal to avoid standing out.

Not all children will openly express their feelings. Anxiety may show up in other ways, such as difficulty concentrating, tiredness, headaches, emotional outbursts or reluctance to attend school.

Schools can make a significant difference by recognising that Father’s Day may be difficult for some pupils and by offering flexibility, alternative activities or opportunities to opt out when needed.

Social Media Makes It Harder to Escape

For older children and teenagers, social media can make Father’s Day grief feel even harder to navigate.

As the day approaches, feeds become filled with celebrations of fathers and family life. While these posts are positive for many people, they can intensify feelings of sadness, loneliness, anger or unfairness for a bereaved young person.

Teenagers may find themselves experiencing conflicting emotions. They may be happy for their friends while also feeling upset about their own loss. They may want to remember their dad while wishing the day would pass quickly.

These reactions are completely normal.

The constant visibility of Father’s Day online can make it feel impossible to step away from reminders, leaving some young people emotionally exhausted before the day has even arrived.

What Children Often Need Most

One of the most helpful things adults can do is simply acknowledge that the build-up to Father’s Day may be difficult.

Children do not always need solutions. Often, they need reassurance that whatever they are feeling is valid.

Helpful support might include:

• Checking in with them before Father’s Day arrives
• Preparing them for school activities or events
• Giving them choices about how they would like to participate
• Helping them find their own way to remember their dad
• Creating space for conversation without forcing it

Importantly, grief does not follow a timetable.

Some children may want to talk openly about their dad, while others may avoid the subject altogether. Some may seem unaffected until a seemingly small reminder brings emotions to the surface.

Listening without judgement and following a child’s lead can help them feel supported and understood.

There Is No Right Way to Feel

Father’s Day can bring sadness, but it can also bring anger, confusion, numbness, envy of other children or even moments of happiness and connection.

There is no right or wrong way for a bereaved child to feel.

As the day approaches, it is important to remember that grief is not only about Father’s Day itself. Sometimes, it is the emotional build-up beforehand that feels most overwhelming.

For bereaved children, having adults who recognise this and offer understanding can make a meaningful difference.

Support for Bereaved Children and Young People

At Mosaic, we know that occasions such as Father’s Day can bring complex emotions for grieving children and young people. We provide a range of services designed to ensure that no child has to face grief alone, including:

• Specialist bereavement counselling – one-to-one support tailored to the needs of each child and young person. 
• Bereavement cafés in schools – safe, supportive spaces where children can connect with others who have experienced loss and share their feelings. 
• Grief Ambassadors – training pupils to help create compassionate, grief-aware school communities where conversations about loss feel safer and more inclusive. 
• Support for schools and professionals – helping adults understand and respond to the needs of bereaved children and young people. 
• Guidance for families and carers – providing advice and support to help children navigate their grief both at home and at school. 

If you are worried about a bereaved child or young person, or would like to find out more about the support available, please get in touch. Whether you’re a parent, carer, teacher or professional, we’re here to help.