Resources for and About Grade School Kids (Ages 6-12)
Adults often feel helpless when grade school-aged children are experiencing loss and grief. We know they must be suffering, but we don’t know how much they know, how much they understand, what to say, what not to say, what would be helpful, or how to avoid making things worse. The stigma of substance use disorder, with all its shame and “no-talk” rules, makes the adult supporter’s role even more difficult.
Clicking on the "VIEW" buttons in the boxes below will take you to resources developed by national experts, and some of them by children who have experienced profound loss and grief and found great resilience. These resources include checklists, podcasts, videos, infographics, articles, booklets, and activities. The activities are particularly important, because children learn and integrate their experiences through play. What you learn on this journey might make your support for kids safer and more effective.
About Grade School Kids
Developmental Differences
"Developmental Differences in Understanding & Reacting to Death," from Judi's House/JAG Institute
Elementary School Children
A "Grief by Age" article on grade school-aged children, from the Eluna Network
Nurturing Resilience
Guidelines for supporters of grieving children, from the Wayfinder Family Co.
The Supporter's Role
Sharing With Your Child After a Loss
For Parents and Other Supporters, from the Wayfinder Family Co.
"Listening on Repeat"
A listening guide for adults, from the National Alliance for Children's Grief
Grief Talk: Listening
An in-depth talk on listening from the National Alliance for Children's Grief
About Grief
The Griever's Bill of Rights
Poster and activity ideas for children and teens, from the Eluna Network
All the Pieces
All the Pieces: When a Loved One Dies from Substance Use (Hallie Riggs video from the APA.
Grieving a Substance-Related Death
Tips from the National Alliance for Children's Grief
In the Words of Kids Who Have Experienced Grief
Grief Feels Like
Highly creative animated video in the words of kids and teens, from the Dougy Center
Let's Hear it for the Kids
Video from the Dougy Center, in the words and voices of children and teens
Their Stories: Traci, Amira, and Alina
From the Dougy Center's "Road to Resilience" series.
Age-Appropriate Activities
Your Grief is Unique
Worksheet for children and teens, from the Eluna Network
Create a Support Chain
Activity making a paper chain of supporters, from the Dougy Center.
Hard Days Safety Plan
A self-care worksheet that kids can fill out, from the Dougy Center
Grief Creature
A drawing/coloring activity that children can use to express their grief, from the Dougy Center
Six-Word Poem
A creative exploration activity from the Dougy Center that gives children many ways to describe grief.
Tools for Kids
A series of tools for children from troubled families, from the National Association for Children of Addiction