Same origin, different implementations: a document analysis of Norwegian and Danish bereavement response plans.

The study compares the planned response of Danish and Norwegian kindergartens to critical illness or death in the families of kindergarten children. The study has three objectives: 1. Investigate the scope and content of the Danish and Norwegian plans. 2. Investigate the conceptualisation of grief support incorporated into the plans. 3. Investigate the differences between the Danish and Norwegian plans and their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Both Norway and Denmark have developed plans that guide institutional staff when they meet families and children in challenging life situations. Despite the fact that both plans have the same origin, they have developed in different ways. The Norwegian plans are often longer and drawn up by experts. In contrast, the Danish plans vary in size and quality, and kindergarten staff mainly draw them up. These differences can be attributed to different organisational levels, such as Norwegian law, as well as national incidents, such as the Utøya terrorist attack.

The study was conducted through the document analysis of 65 Danish and 30 Norwegian plans used in kindergartens.

Lytje, M., Dyregrov, A., Bergstrøm, M. D., Fjærestad, A., & Fisher-Hoyrem, L. (2021). “Same origin, different implementations: a document analysis of Norwegian and Danish bereavement response plans”. International Journal of Early Years Education, DOI: 10.1080/09669760.2021.1902787.