Safe Crossings Program Resources

Here you will find educational resources on childhood bereavement as well as activities to support processing grief and loss. All items have been created by the Safe Crossings Program to support grieving children and teens.

These educational packets were written to support caregivers in having difficult conversations about death with children and teens. Complete with developmental considerations and language recommendations, these packets provide a useful guide for supporting children and teens facing the death of someone significant in their life.

I’m Here Too Activity Book – This mini activity book encourages children to explore who they are, how their loss or anticipated loss has impacted them, and what helps them cope.

Creating Your Graphic Narrative – This activity provides a creative, visual outlet for people of all ages to tell the story of the death of their special person. Telling the story of a death is an important component of processing loss.

Flare-Out Fury Dragon – Anger, irritability, frustration and spikes of intense physical energy are common experiences when grieving. Rather than hold it in, it’s helpful and healthy for children to find appropriate outlets to release these feelings. Create this fun, sound muffling dragon with your child that they can shout into when angry.

Tribute Tulip Garden – Celebrate the person who has died and how they have shaped you by creating an origami tulip garden. Inside each blossom, write something the person taught you, something you share in common with them, or an aspect of yourself or something you have done while grieving that makes you proud.

Memory Scene – This project encourages imagination and creativity to create a scene that reminds you of your special person.

Paper-Mache Special Keeping Cup – Create this paper-mache cup or bowl to depict who it is you are keeping in your heart.

Tree of Life Activity – This activity uses the symbolism of a tree to help guide us through thoughts of what helps us to feel grounded, what helps to calm us, what challenges or frightens us, and how we have grown.

Safe Crossings Program Booklist – This extensive booklist provides our recommendations of grief related books. Broken down by age groups we hope there is something on the list that fits for each member of your family.

Peaceful Play Dough – Homemade play dough is a home crafting classic, and this activity adds aroma-therapeutic elements to support your child in expressing emotions with their own creation!

Digital Memorial Collage –This activity is encourages creative expression through the use your computer/tablet/smartphone to create a visual representation of your special person or grief journey.

Conversation Starter Rain Stick – This activity allows you to create a soothing talking object that can be used to facilitate meaningful conversations as a family.

Emotions in Grief – This article intends to get you thinking about how you feel and interact with your own and your children’s grief emotions.

Coping Stress Ball – This fun and easy craft shows you how to make a stress ball with components your probably have around the house. This ball is a handy, tactile way to help your child express an emotion that might be hard to get out.

Poetry Writing for Grievers – We know that poetry writing can be intimidating, and it can be difficult to know how to start. However, we’ve created guides and fill-in-the-blank poems to assist you in your creative process. Even the most novice of poets can have fun using these instructions! Poetry writing can be helpful for grievers in many ways, and can be made funny and silly for amusement.

Memorial Mural with Homemade Chalk-Paint – Enjoy getting outside and creating a mural in honor of the special person who has died. This chalk is easy to make, vibrant and fun as you trying painting rather than drawing with chalk. Creating murals can be therapeutic and communal. Feel free to invite family members and friends to contribute art to and/or view the mural.

Below are activities designed to promote connection and coping during the COVID-19 Pandemic. While this time has brought challenges into all of our lives, grieving children may be uniquely impacted. This article outlines some things to consider while supporting your child during this time.

  • Flower Watering: A Gratitude Practice – This springtime family activity involves planting seeds and expressing gratitude for one another as well as expressing gratitude for the person who died. No seeds or place to plant? No problem. Instructions for how to complete this activity seed and dirt free are also included.
  • What’s In My Control – This activity helps identify what is and what is not within ones control and encourages children and teens focus on taking action on what is within their control.
  • Connecting Can Be Sweet – This sweet activity encourages families to connect and share about how they are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Move and Express to De-Stress – Many people are struggling to incorporate movement into the day during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This brief activity packet provides suggestions for fun ways to get moving as family.
  • The Egg Hunt that Keeps on Giving – Try this twist on a common holiday tradition that encourages family connection. Hide the attached “coupon cards” in plastic eggs around your home or yard that can be redeemed throughout the month for special treats.
  • Quiet Space – A brief guide to support families in creating a designated quiet space in their homes at a time when taking space from others is a challenge.
  • Worry-Keeper – Based on Guatemalan worry dolls, this creative activity supports children in creating a creature that can hold their worries for them.
  • Quick Switch Emotion Chairs – This fun game is a great tool for exploring different feelings and how they can be expressed.