A Heart Can Grow

Among many great coping strategies for kids is drawing, which is a fine way to share important feelings. Explain that when we have to say goodbye to people (and places), it can feel like our hearts are breaking or shrinking, but that those memories don’t need to leave our hearts. As Karli did in the video, help children draw three outlines of hearts. Then help them write or draw in each of the hearts: Among many great coping strategies for kids is drawing, which is a fine way to share important feelings. Explain that when we have to say goodbye to people (and places), it can feel like our hearts are breaking or shrinking, but that those memories don’t need to leave our hearts. As Karli did in the video, help children draw three outlines of hearts. Then help them write or draw in each of the hearts:

1. In the middle heart, children draw “the people and places I miss.”
2. In the heart around that, encourage children to draw new, important grown-ups in their lives, new places they’re going, and new things they are doing and learning.
3. In the outermost heart, invite children to draw things they would like to do, learn, try, and see—to build optimism as they look ahead.

If they don’t already have one, you might also help children create a “My Story” in which children record this type of information. The book belongs to them as they move around. Make a simple one by cutting sheets of paper into heart shapes and stapling them together, or just using a blank journal or notebook. They can add the heart drawing to the book when they’re done.

Children might also have a “Memory Box” (it can be as simple as a shoe box) in which children can keep things (including drawings) that help them remember people or places they miss.