Table of Contents
Introduction 8
Part 1 All About Grief 11
Chapter 1 What Parents Need to Know about Grief 12
What Is Grief? 12
How Common Is Childhood Grief? 13
Different Types of Grief 13
Are There Really "Stages" of Grief? 14
Children Grieve Differently Than Adults 15
How Preschoolers Grieve 15
How Early Elementary Children Grieve 16
How Late Elementary Children Grieve 16
How Tweens Grieve 17
Do Boys and Girls Grieve Differently? 17
Grieving and the Risk for Future Mental Health Problems 18
What Risk Factors Make Children Vulnerable after Loss? 19
What Helps Children Be More Resilient after Loss? 20
Chapter 2 Creating Safety after Loss 21
Before a Loved One Dies 21
Talking about Terminal Illness 21
After a Loved One Dies: Talking about Death 22
Be Prepared for a Variety of Reactions 25
Getting Support from Family and Friends 25
Should My Child Attend the Funeral? 27
Reestablishing Safety in the "New Normal" 27
How to Use This Book 28
When Should We Start? 29
Part 2 Activities 31
Chapter 3 Helping Kids Learn about Grief 32
Read a Grief Story 33
5 Ws about Death 35
Toy Funeral 36
Life-Cycle Drawing 38
True or False Toss 40
Where Is My Loved One Now? 42
Tear Soup 43
Tangled Grief Yarn Toss 45
Question Mailbox 47
The Ball in the Box 48
If Grief Was a… 50
Chapter 4 Naming and Exploring Emotions 51
Feelings in My Body 52
Short-Film Critic 54
Double-Dip Feelings Grab Bag 55
You Can't Push Down Feelings 56
Feelings Charades 57
Grief Jenga 58
Drawing to Music 60
Feelings Change Like the Weather 61
Joint Storytelling 63
Feelings Mask 64
Feelings Color Map 66
Chapter 5 Coping with Worries 68
Flower Breathing 69
Beanbag Breathing 70
"Look for the Helpers" 71
Feeding the Worry Monster 73
Mindful Cocoa 74
Muscle Squeezes 75
Sensory Bottle 77
Fire Alarm 79
Can Control It, Can't Control It 81
Box Breathing 83
Peaceful Place Artwork 85
The Grief Worry Brain 87
Chapter 6 Coping with Anger 88
Salt Dough Smash 89
Mad Picture 90
Dragon Breaths 91
Workout Wheel 92
Scream Box 94
Coping Corner 95
Un-Favorite Memory 97
Spray Away Anger 99
"But It's Unfair!" 100
Grief Iceberg 101
Anger Mantra 103
Chapter 7 Coping with Sadness 105
Remote Control 106
Special Activity Calendar 108
Mindful Nature Scavenger Hunt 110
T-Shirt Comfort Pillow 112
Comfort Magnet 114
Turnaround Legos 115
Sadness Monster 117
Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Drawing 118
Joy Collage 120
Pick-Me-Up Playlist 121
YouTube Help Kit 122
Chapter 8 Healing through Storytelling 123
My Special Person Picture Book 124
I'm Sorry, I Forgive You 126
One Perfect Day 127
Before and After Family Portraits 128
Acrostic Name Poem 129
Letter to My Loved One 130
Unsent Texts 132
My Special Person Comic Strip 134
Haiku Epitaph 135
Grief Story Playlist 136
Chapter 9 Keeping Memories Strong 137
Invisible String Heart Garland 138
Memory Table 139
Design a Memorial Service 141
Family Remembrance Ritual 143
Memory Box 145
Five Senses Memories 146
Holiday Remembrance Ornament 147
Memorial Tree 149
Family Story Cookbook 151
Window in My Heart 153
Postcard Update 155
Memory Necklace 157
Chapter 10 Making Meaning 159
Sidewalk Art 160
What's Different, What's the Same? 161
Grief Expert 162
Photo Family Tree 163
Parts of Me Portrait 165
What's Your Spark? 167
Showing Thank You 169
Letter to My Past Self 171
Appreciating Fragile Things 172
Kintsugi, Part 1 174
Kintsugi, Part 2 176
Chapter 11 Looking to the Future 178
Themed Family Portrait 179
Paper Bag Puppet Show 180
Travel Passport 181
Family Flag 183
Three Magic Wishes 184
Family Hope Chain 185
New Family Tradition 186
Growing Up Portraits 188
Personal Coat of Arms 189
On This Day 190
Lifeline Mobile 192
Part 3 Applying Lessons to Daily Life 195
Chapter 4 What's Next? 196
Grief Is a Lifelong Process 196
Children Revisit Grief As They Grow 196
What Situations Can Be Triggering for Bereaved Children? 197
How to Support Your Child Over Time 198
Be Mindful of Changing Family Roles 198
Integrate Coping Skills Into Daily Life 199
Take the Initiative in Talking about Your Loved One 200
What If My Child Needs More Help? 201
Signs a Child May Need Counseling 202
What Kind of Therapy Helps Bereaved Children? 202
Moving Ahead Together 203
Resources 204
Index 206
