25 Things to Do When Grandpa Passes Away, Mom and Dad Get Divorced or the Dog Dies

Activities to Help Children Suffering Loss or Change
by Laurie Kanyer, M.A.

Kids need ways to acknowledge death and loss—and they need to express their sense of grief physically. Some children need activities we consider traditional: they conduct ceremonies or write letters to the people they’ve lost. Others, full of the anger that is a normal stage of grief, need to pound and punch, run and jump. Yet others express their grief through art.

This book combines a description of the grieving process with directions for activities that help bereaved children. Kanyer explains the value of each activity so parents and caregivers can select appropriate projects based on the child’s age, loss, and stage in the grieving process. She also discusses how learning about grief prepares children for new relationships and to accept losses later in life.