Resources for Kids & Teens
There are many books that help children understand death and coping with grief. I bought the kids’ books listed below for my daughter, who was seven when my husband died, and read them to her every night for a while. I’ve included excerpts of the official synopses on Amazon. At the bottom are a few websites for teenagers.
This handbook from Good Grief of Northwest Ohio describes how to support children and teens in their grief.
Books for Kids
Parents, educators, therapists, and social workers alike have declared The Invisible String the perfect tool for coping with all kinds of separation anxiety, loss, and grief. This heartwarming picture book for all ages explores questions about the intangible yet unbreakable connections between us, and opens up deeper conversations about love.
From the perspective of a young child, author Joanna Rowland artfully describes what it’s like to remember and grieve a loved one who has died… The main character creates a memory box to keep mementos and written memories of her loved one to help with the grieving process… Heartfelt and comforting, The Memory Box helps children, parents, educators, therapists, and social workers talk about this very difficult topic together.
The loss of a parent is a profound event for a child. In the aftermath of the death, children face great emotional vulnerability and distress and need help from their surviving parent and other supportive adults around them. Reassurance and support, as well as practical coping tools, are key to the child’s ability to recover and lead a full and happy life. Samantha Jane’s Missing Smile is the story of one child’s loss…
I Miss You: A First Look at Death: When a close friend or family member dies, it can be sad for kids and difficult for them to express the big feelings they are experiencing. This book will help explain in a gentle way that death is a natural complement to life and that grief and a sense of loss are normal feelings to have following the death of a loved one.
Websites for Teenagers
Grief Sucks is an initiative of Experience Camps, a nonprofit that hosts free summer camps for grieving children. The website provides videos, articles and resources on grief for children.
Teenage Grief Sucks (TGS) is a teen-run website sharing stories written by and for grieving teens. Since 2020, TGS has been a platform for anyone who knows teenage grief personally or professionally to share their experiences. TGS is created and run by Natalie Adams, who lost her dad and stepmom while in high school.
SLAP’D is the social media for teens who have lost a parent to find hope and connection through shared experiences.