Grief Support for Children Through Inspiring Books

Grieving with your children is an important part of your journey together.

Grief is a natural and universal human experience, and children are not exempt from feeling this emotion. It's important to provide them with support and resources to help them navigate the complex emotions that come with loss and change.

One effective way to do this is through children's books that address grief and provide comfort, understanding and hope.

Grief Books for Children

Here’s a list of heartwarming and insightful books aimed at supporting children through the challenging journey of grief.

• In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek

• The Tiny Star by Mem Fox & Freya Blackwood

• Remembered by Heart by Sally Morgan

• Maybe by Kobi Yamada

• Born to Fly by Patrick Guest

• The Memory Box by Joanna Rowland

• Just in case you ever wondered by Max Lucado

• The Memory Tree by Britta Teckentrup

• Beginning and Endings with Lifetimes in Between by Bryan Mellonie & Robert Ingram

• Something very sad happened by Bonnie Zucker

• What to say when you don't know what to say by Davina Bell & Hilary Jean Tapper

• My Sibling Still by Megan Lacourrege

• Michael Rosen's Sad Book

• The Golden Thread by Amelia Donnelly

• The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr

• The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

• Kissed by the Moon by Alison Lester

• Saying Goodbye by Lisa Cooper

• When Dinosaurs Die by Laurie Krasny Brown & Marc Brown

Grieving With Your Children

Encourage children to express their emotions openly. Listen without judgment and let them know it's normal to feel sad, angry, confused or any other emotion.

Perhaps you have lost a parent, a spouse, or a friend. In the midst of this, your children have also lost a grandparent, a parent, or a friend. In this situation, both you and your children are experiencing similar emotions, even though your individual experiences may differ.

Grieving with your children is an important part of supporting them through the challenging journey of grief. It's crucial to create a safe and open environment where they feel comfortable expressing their emotions.

Encourage them to talk about their feelings, memories and questions, and listen attentively without judgment. Validate their emotions and reassure them that it's okay to feel sad, angry, confused or any other emotion they may experience.

Let them know that you're there for them and that you're going through the grieving process together as a family.

It's also helpful to engage in activities that help them cope with their emotions, such as reading books about grief, creating memory boxes, writing letters or participating in rituals to honor and remember the loved one who has passed away.

By being present, supportive, and understanding, you can help your children navigate their grief and find healing and hope in their own time.

Nurturing Hope and Resilience in Grieving Children

Each child's healing process is different. Be patient. It’s okay to ask for help if you feel overwhelmed.

Each child's healing process is unique, so it's important to be patient and understanding.

You’re grieving too. If you feel like you can't fully navigate the grieving process on your own with your children, keep in mind that it's okay to accept help from others. Grief counsellors, therapists, or psychologists who specialise in working with children can provide additional support and guidance tailored to your child's specific needs. Seeking help is a sign of strength and can be beneficial in your child's healing journey.

By providing them with a variety of resources and being present for them, you can help them navigate their grief and find hope and resilience in their own time.