Grief and loss affects children of all ages. Even babies can sense a change in emotion and routine in their environment. Supporting children when families experience a loss is important. We want to offer some resources to help you in this process. Please contact us if you have any questions.
H.E.A.R.T.strings Grief Coloring Book Our office is now offering interactive sibling books to help younger children acknowledge their feelings after loss. They are available by request for parents. The book we offer is a coloring book formatted especially for children who have experienced the loss of a sibling through pregnancy loss or neonatal death. Please contact us to request one. There is no fee.
Kate's Club - A non-profit organization that empowers children and teens facing life after the death of a parent or sibling.
The Link Counseling Center - Nonprofit community counseling center since 1971 that provides quality, affordable, confidential counseling, psychotherapy, and support groups to all ages. The House Next Door is their program for children. Local groups available, (770) 730-5858
Reading Recommendations
Aarvy Aardvark Finds Hope (O’Toole): A story for people of all ages about loving and losing, friendship and hope
Dancing on the Moon (Roper): About a little girl whose baby brother dies of SIDS
Explaining Death to Children (Grollman) Helps adults with explaining death to children and also helpful for adults who are exploring their own views and thoughts about death
The Fall of Freddie the Leaf (Buscaglia) As Freddie experiences the changing seasons along with his companion leaves, he learns that death is part of life
Fingernail Mood, Mama’s Journal (Lager) This book is out-of-print, but we have one copy in our library.
Grief Watch - Offers a variety of children & teen grief books
I Know I Made it Happen (Centering Corp) We look at feelings when there’s a family fight, a divorce, illness, injury and death. Gives kids support and understanding during crises. It’s nice to know, though, that my wishes, and my thoughts, and my words, don’t make bad things happen.
No New Baby (Centering Corp) This storybook talks about the different feelings children have and answers some of the most asked questions.
Sad Isn't Bad: A Good-Grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing With Loss (Mundy) This guide tells children what they need to know after a loss--that the world is still safe; life is good; and hurting hearts do mend. Written by a school counselor, this book helps comfort children facing of the worst and hardest kind of reality.
Sibling Grief (Martinez, Burns, Ilse) Valuable coping tips for both parents and children
Someone Came Before You (Schwiebert) For children when the baby they are waiting for dies AND for the child who comes after the one who died
Something Happened (Blanford) This book is designed especially for children between the ages of two and six whose families have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death.
Talking About Death - A Dialogue Between Parent and Child (Grollman) A guide for adults and children to read together, featuring a readalong story, answers to questions children ask about death, and a comprehensive list of resources and organizations that can help
Tear Soup (Schwiebert & DeKlyen) Recognizes and reinforces the fact that every member of the family from the youngest to the oldest will grieve in their own way (also available on DVD)
Thumpy’s Story (Dodge) This story provides an opportunity for children and adults to express their emotions and learn about life, death, grief and love. (also available in Spanish)
When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death (Brown) Addresses children's fears and curiosity head-on, and in a largely secular fashion, by answering some very basic questions: "Why does someone die?" "What does dead mean?" "What comes after death?"
Where’s Jess? (Johnson) To help very young children cope with infant sibling loss