GRIEF PROJECTS

Children need and want to maintain or develop a sense of who the deceased parent was. The following activities can be helpful and comforting to grieving children and families.
These activities can be done now and may need to be done again in the future. As the child grows, more questions will be asked, new things will become significant, and stories will have new importance. These projects can become lifelong treasures for the child.

MEMORY BOXES

A small container, such as a shoe box, can be used as a memory box. Children can decorate the box and place a few significant items in it. These would be items that represent or belonged to their loved one, i.e. fishing gear, flowers, jewelry, tools, or photos.

SCRAPBOOKING

This is a way to organize photos and memorabilia. It is an activity that can be done as a family. Scrapbooking provides children the opportunity to record their own stories about their loved one and share memories with their family.

CREATE A QUILT

By selecting fabric from their loved one’s clothing, such as ties, dress shirts or T-shirts, a quilter can incorporate the clothing into a beautiful memory quilt. This can be a special keepsake. This can be done on a smaller level as a T-shirt pillow.

WRITE IN A JOURNAL

A special notebook can be used to express thoughts and feelings. The child can do this alone or with a family member. This can be used as a written journal or may include drawings, photos and memories.

MEMORY PHOTO WALL

Children may select particular photos they would like to have in their room. Get creative and make a memory photo wall, such as a heart shape in this featured video.

RECORD A STORY

Recording a story about the deceased is a way for children, especially young children, to stay connected to their loved one. This can be through writing, audio, or video. Stories can be about the loved one's life or a favorite tale the person used to tell.