Losing a loved one is hard enough when you are an adult and understand the concepts of life and its inevitable conclusion. But death and loss can be an even more mysterious and confusing process for children and teenagers. Below is a list of resources to help caregivers provide support to children and teenagers who are navigating grief and loss.
Books:
- The Invisible String is a captivating story in which the mother uses an “invisible string” to share with her children how they are connected to others even when they are apart.
- The Invisible String is most useful for children between the ages of 4 and 10.
- This resource can be appropriate for any grief or bereavement situation. It is a great resource for children coping with any kind of separation, whether that be temporary, in their daily lives, or the death of a loved one.
- The Invisible String can be utilized when working with families, and even more specifically, when working with siblings. The book teaches children how they can continue to feel connected to a loved one who has passed. While dealing with this type of grief, the book can be utilized to teach children how they can continue to be connected to their siblings.
- Suggested Activity: Take a string–which is a visualization of connection. Attach the string to a picture of the sibling or family member lost.
- This book was written by a teenager who grieved her father’s passing at the age of 14. The author, Jenny, reassures those going through this situation that each teenager grieves differently for as long as they need to (Wheeler, 2010).
- This resource is best used to help children ages 12 to 17.
- This book would be a great resource for children dealing with the loss of a parent.
- This movie is a great resource for highlighting the stages of grief and how difficult loss can be for a child to comprehend and accept.
- This movie is best used as a resource for ages 7 to 11 because children within this age range tend to have a basic understanding of death. This movie creates a platform for them to want to ask questions (CHOC, n.d.).
- Big Hero 6 does a wonderful job of depicting the five stages of grief and of showcasing how to honor a deceased loved one. The movie also portrays how a child may work through the process of realizing that the loved one is permanently gone.
- The main character, Hiro, becomes withdrawn, restless, and even loses a sense of appetite. Eventually, he does “recover,” while being able to honor his brother and work with the robot he created.
Support groups can bring people together to share memories. Activities conducted within a support group may include asking the participating child to bring old photos of their loved one who passed, watch videos, and create memory books, to name a few. These activities can be used for the passing of any loved one.
- A memory bracelet can be made to reflect on the deceased person’s favorite things and the memories between the child and that person.
- This activity is best for children ages 7 to 12. However, this can really be used for children of any age!
- This activity can help children work through any type of grief or bereavement issue. It does not necessarily have to include the passing of a person.
- Place a bead on a bracelet to represent your loved one’s favorite color.
- Place a bead that represents the month they were born in.
- Place a bead to represent their favorite sports team or hobby.
- Place a bead to represent their favorite holiday.
- Place a bead to best represent their personality.
- Place a bead that represents their favorite season.
- Place a bead that makes you think of the happiest memory you had with your loved one.
- Place a bead that represents your love for them.
- Optional: add letter beads with their initials or nickname.
Recommended Reads
Losing a loved one is hard enough when you are an adult and understand the concepts of life and its inevitable conclusion. But death and loss can be an even more mysterious and confusing process for children and teenagers. Below is a list of resources to help caregivers provide support to children and teenagers who are navigating grief and loss.
Books:
- The Invisible String is a captivating story in which the mother uses an “invisible string” to share with her children how they are connected to others even when they are apart.
- The Invisible String is most useful for children between the ages of 4 and 10.
- This resource can be appropriate for any grief or bereavement situation. It is a great resource for children coping with any kind of separation, whether that be temporary, in their daily lives, or the death of a loved one.
- The Invisible String can be utilized when working with families, and even more specifically, when working with siblings. The book teaches children how they can continue to feel connected to a loved one who has passed. While dealing with this type of grief, the book can be utilized to teach children how they can continue to be connected to their siblings.
- Suggested Activity: Take a string–which is a visualization of connection. Attach the string to a picture of the sibling or family member lost.
- This book was written by a teenager who grieved her father’s passing at the age of 14. The author, Jenny, reassures those going through this situation that each teenager grieves differently for as long as they need to (Wheeler, 2010).
- This resource is best used to help children ages 12 to 17.
- This book would be a great resource for children dealing with the loss of a parent.
- This movie is a great resource for highlighting the stages of grief and how difficult loss can be for a child to comprehend and accept.
- This movie is best used as a resource for ages 7 to 11 because children within this age range tend to have a basic understanding of death. This movie creates a platform for them to want to ask questions (CHOC, n.d.).
- Big Hero 6 does a wonderful job of depicting the five stages of grief and of showcasing how to honor a deceased loved one. The movie also portrays how a child may work through the process of realizing that the loved one is permanently gone.
- The main character, Hiro, becomes withdrawn, restless, and even loses a sense of appetite. Eventually, he does “recover,” while being able to honor his brother and work with the robot he created.
Support groups can bring people together to share memories. Activities conducted within a support group may include asking the participating child to bring old photos of their loved one who passed, watch videos, and create memory books, to name a few. These activities can be used for the passing of any loved one.
- A memory bracelet can be made to reflect on the deceased person’s favorite things and the memories between the child and that person.
- This activity is best for children ages 7 to 12. However, this can really be used for children of any age!
- This activity can help children work through any type of grief or bereavement issue. It does not necessarily have to include the passing of a person.
- Place a bead on a bracelet to represent your loved one’s favorite color.
- Place a bead that represents the month they were born in.
- Place a bead to represent their favorite sports team or hobby.
- Place a bead to represent their favorite holiday.
- Place a bead to best represent their personality.
- Place a bead that represents their favorite season.
- Place a bead that makes you think of the happiest memory you had with your loved one.
- Place a bead that represents your love for them.
- Optional: add letter beads with their initials or nickname.
Recommended Reads
References
CHOC. (n.d.) Grief and bereavement education and support. https://www.choc.org/programs-services/child-life/grief-bereavement-education-support/
Karst, P. (2000). The Invisible String. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
McIntre, K. (n.d.). Memory Bracelets. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AfbQKhe9lITWF_K0ZR61_CcyYU1_P2Nw50E8cKiv167PT5ImQaz1Uwc/
Wheeler, J. L. (2010). Weird is normal: When teenagers grieve. Naples, FL: Quality of Life Pub.
References
CHOC. (n.d.) Grief and bereavement education and support. https://www.choc.org/programs-services/child-life/grief-bereavement-education-support/
Karst, P. (2000). The Invisible String. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
McIntre, K. (n.d.). Memory Bracelets. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AfbQKhe9 lITWF_K0ZR61_CcyYU1_P2Nw50E8cKiv1 67PT5 ImQaz1Uwc/
Wheeler, J. L. (2010). Weird is normal: When teenagers grieve. Naples, FL: Quality of Life Pub.
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