Resources
Siblings Grieve Too
Grief and loss storybooks and children's activities are invaluable in opening communication and talking in a way young children can understand. They also help release the pressure on parents to find the right words, especially in the early days.
Using direct language around death can feel confronting but the advice from the experts is to keep things simple and to avoid confusing phrases such as ‘passed away’ or 'he's asleep' as these can cause misunderstandings and fear for children.
Research shows that direct and open communication facilitates healthy grieving and acceptance of loss. It is also recommended to include children in traditions and rituals around death such as funerals and memory making.
Childrens Books
Eden & Ellie’s Christmas is Not the Same, Autumn & Brandon Cohen
Collection of Grief Support Books
Additional Resources
Support Services
Play Therapy
Play Therapy is a gentle and effective form of psychological support, particularly helpful for children who may struggle to express complex emotions through words alone. Using toys, creative play, storytelling, and role-playing, therapists create a safe and supportive environment where children can explore and process feelings of grief, trauma, or anxiety. Therapists observe and guide the play to gain insight and support emotional healing at the child’s own pace.
If you feel this may benefit your child, we encourage you to search for registered Play Therapists or child psychologists in your area.
“Children grieve just as deeply as adults, but they show it in different ways. Their grief often comes out in their behavior, in their play, or in their need for reassurance.”
Alan D. Wolfelt, PhD, author and grief counsellor