Something Small
Show children that even a small memory can help us remember loved ones.
- Cuddle up together and read Something Small, in which Elmo’s cousin Jesse has recently lost her daddy.
- After you read, talk about the small things children remember about their loved one. It might be his hair, her smile, his favorite shirt, or a favorite game they played together.
- Invite children to draw on small slips of paper. They can use crayons or markers to draw pictures of the “small things” they remember about their loved one (such as her eyes, his favorite sandwich, his hands, her favorite flower). They can also dictate to you what to write on their drawing.
- Together, place the slips of paper in different places, such as in children’s backpacks, on top of a dresser, or next to their bed. Throughout the day, the tiny drawings will remind children of their loved one, and may offer some small comfort.
Grief and Change Caused by COVID-19
It’s okay to have feelings of grief when we experience changes big and small.
When Kids Need Special-Special Comfort
In the midst of big changes, comfort items such as small stuffed animals and blankets can provide a sense of continuity in a child’s life.
Helping Children Through Grief Related To COVID-19
There are ways to help families talk about death, express their feelings, and grieve together.
Open Ended Art
Doing open-ended art activities together helps adults and children relax and connect.
Remembering
For children and adults, it’s important to celebrate the lives of our loved ones who have died.
Showing and Sharing Feelings
Naming a big feeling can help children begin to understand it, and later regulate it.
Coloring to Calm Down
Coloring can help both children and grown-ups feel more calm and grounded.
