Tender Tears: A Guide to Grief Activities for Kids

Grieving a loss is especially challenging for children and teens, who may face for the first time emotions like guilt, loneliness, or anger. Left unaddressed, these feelings can affect them long-term, shaping how they cope with loss in adulthood.

Everyone processes grief differently. The following grief activities can help children and teens express their feelings, build resilience, and begin to heal.

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Family Therapy Activities and How Adults Can Help

Parents and guardians play a crucial role in helping grieving children. Creating a safe space to share feelings, encouraging creative arts, and participating in physical activities together can ease the grieving process.

1. Memory Box or Memorial Jar

Children can decorate a box or jar and fill it with items that remind them of their loved one. If physical objects aren’t available, drawings or written notes can be placed inside. This activity helps children connect memories with emotions.

  • Materials: Box or jar, keepsakes, pens or markers.
  • Steps: Choose a container, decorate it, and fill it with meaningful objects or drawings.

2. Finish the Sentence

Open-ended prompts help children express feelings they may struggle to articulate. Examples include:

  • “The thing I remember the most…”
  • “I am sad when…”
  • “Since you died, my family…”

3. Writing a Letter

Writing letters allows children to express thoughts they might not share aloud. They can choose to keep the letter or leave it somewhere meaningful, like a memory box or grave.

  • Materials: Pen and paper.
  • Prompt: “What I miss most about you is…”

4. Making a Memory Bracelet

Creating a bracelet with beads that represent special memories helps children feel connected to their loved one. Beading also reduces stress and provides a calming activity.

  • Materials: String or elastic, beads of various colors.
  • Steps: Pick beads that symbolize memories, then assemble them into a bracelet.

5. Drawing and Coloring for Grief

Drawing and coloring allow children to express feelings beyond words. Assigning colors to emotions can help them process grief in a healthy way.

6. Matching Emotions

This activity teaches children to recognize emotions by pairing them with facial expressions or actions, helping build emotional vocabulary and resilience.

7. Memory Jar Pot

Children can write feelings on broken pieces of a clay pot, then glue them back together with supportive words or drawings, symbolizing healing and restoration.

  • Materials: Terra-cotta pot, paint pens, glue.

8. Creating a Journal

Journaling provides a private outlet for emotions. Teens especially benefit from prompts that encourage reflection and self-expression.

9. Reading

Age-appropriate books about grief can normalize emotions and open conversations between children and caregivers.

Conclusion

Grieving children need reassurance that their emotions are valid. These activities provide safe, constructive ways for kids and families to process grief together while building resilience for the future.

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