For Parents and Guardians to use with your Child/YP
Understandably, many parents and guardians reach out wanting to know how best to support their child/young person after the death of a loved one. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s now more important than ever to be able to support your young person from the comfort of your own home.
This page includes some interactive and practical resources created by Cruse Bereavement Support which parents and guardians may use to help their Child/YP along on their grief journey.
To view and download each resource, please click on the images below:
After Someone Dies
A leaflet created to provide information and support to young people surrounding death, bereavement and grief.
Supporting Bereaved Children
Helpful resources for bereaved children and young people. Its a resource pack filled with tools and guidance helpful in supporting a bereaved young person to move forward on their grief journey.
When Someone You Love Dies
A short, interactive booklet which normalises grief for young children. It gives children the opportunity to add a photo of their loved one whilst taking time to remember them. It encourages children to speak with trusted adults when they are feeling overwhelmed by their grief.
Biography of your special person
An activity created to give children/yp the opportunity to reflect on their special person who has died. It’s a nice activity to allow children/yp to ask questions and find out more about their loved one, even after they have died.
All About Me
This activity encourages children/yp to practice mindfulness by taking time to be aware of their thoughts and feelings.
Feelings Word-search
A word-search containing 16 words which includes feelings a child/yp may experience after the death of a loved one. This word-search can help to show children and young people that their feelings are valid and normal to feel.
Making a Memory Box
This is a quick guide on how to make a memory box, the supplies you’ll need and what you can add to it. Having a physical object to go to when grief feels overwhelming can be empowering and comforting for children/yp. It is also a special way to bring loved ones together and give time to remembering the loved one who has died.
Hold on to your memories
Imagine that you could hold a perfect memory in the palm of your hand. An activity which encourages children/yp to bring a special memory of their loved one to life through writing and conversations.
Memory Heart
This activity has been created with an open, illustrated heart, leaving space for children/yp to write down their favourite, key memories of their loved one onto the page.
Photo Memories
An activity to encourage children/yp to reminisce through old photographs. When you see a photo, the picture helps you remember the people, places and things in it. Children and young people can create a special photo album on these pages.
Rainbow of Memories
An arts and crafts activity encouraging children/yp to create their own special rainbow. Rainbows remind us that even after the darkest stormy clouds, and sometimes the fiercest wind and rain, there is still some colour and hope. You’ll need some paint, sticks, glue and a piece of card to make your memory rainbow.
Tangled ball of Grief
When a special person dies, there are many emotions that can form part of a young person’s grief and loss. These emotions can feel ‘tangled’ and ‘intertwined’.This activity allows children/yp to shade the emotions which stand out to them most.
Children, Young people and Coronavirus
Specific guidance made by Cruse to offer support and advice to parents and guardians on how best to support children and young people through a bereavement or resurfaced grief during the Coronavirus pandemic.
If you are having difficulty downloading any of these resources, please contact: hopeagain@cruse.org.uk
For more personal support and advice, you can also call the free Cruse helpline on: 0808 808 1677
