Your Child's Journey through Grief

Grief is a unique journey for every child, and there's no right or wrong way to process it. Every child grieves at their own pace, and their emotional reactions can look different from other children's, even those their same age.

This book is designed for early elementary-aged children, and it is filled with creative activities to help them express and understand their feelings. In my experience, I've seen firsthand how art therapy can be a powerful tool for young children in processing grief. When children can express their emotions through drawing or writing, rather than having to speak about them, it taps into different areas of the brain that help them process feelings. Art can help children explore emotions they may not have the words for and provide a safe space to process their grief.

When my children lost their stepmom, my children were 10, 6, and 13 months, my 6 year old didn't begin processing her grief until months later, almost a year to be exact. I was concerned I was doing something wrong or wasn't there for her in the right ways. She didn't have the words to express what she was feeling, and it was hard for her to talk about her sadness. However, through art therapy at school, and our amazing support she started using drawings to express her emotions. This creative outlet allowed her to slowly begin processing her grief in a healthy way.

The target of this workbook is early elementary age children as their ability to express emotions through the grief process as all kids is much different. I wanted to give ways that helped myself, my kids and our support system through our grief journey with kids.

As a parent or caregiver, it's important to remember that there is no "right" way to process grief or parent through it. Every child's journey is different, and there's no set timeline for when they will begin to process their emotions. Go with the flow of their feelings, and allow their grief to unfold at a pace that feels right for them. This book will support your child as they explore their emotions in a safe and creative way, allowing the process to unfold naturally.