Child Grief Awareness Week 17th November

This week is Child Grief Awareness Week. An incredible important but often overlooked week in the calendar where we come together to think about how we support our young people through some of the most difficult times in their lives.

Alongside the wonderful, Marfleet Foundation, we have created a specially designed mini unit of work to support children following a bereavement or other difficult time in their life. It can also be used with classmates to support their understanding of how to care for a friend who has faced difficult times.

The unit combines The Marfleet Foundation and The Story Project’s years of experience in the classroom, research in using stories to support difficult experiences and lived experience of bereavement.

Based on the book ‘How to Mend a Friend’ by Karl Newson, this gentle and warm unit of work is perfect for exploring how we support each other.

Download everything you need here

Other books to support children experiencing grief in primary

Books are a wonderful tool for discussing difficult topics such as death. Reading about a character experiencing grief or a bereavement takes the focus away from children’s own emotions. Reading about it creates a space for children to question and process the topic without it feeling raw. This helps to foster a sense of empathy and understanding.

For children who have recently experienced a bereavement, books can also help them to feel seen. Having their emotions reflected in a story validates how they feel, further supporting them in their grief.

Grandad’s Camper by Harry Woodgate

This is the book that we talked about at the Bereavement Summit. It is a beautifully told story about a Grandad and his Granddaughter, who has a lovely idea to cheer him up after Gramps dies. A wonderful celebration of LGBTQ+ families.

Age range: KS1

Badger’s Parting Gift by Susan Varley

Age range: EYFS/KS1

We were amazed to read that this book is now 40 years old! We’re not surprised at it’s long-lasting impact though, as the story depicts both the sadness of death and the joy of remembering.

Grief is an Elephant by Tamara Ellis Smith

Age range: EYFS

A sweet exploration of grief and how it changes over time. Great for younger readers; as it is relatable for all forms of sadness and loss.

The Copper Tree by Hilary Robinson

Age range: KS1

A poignant book about the loss of a teacher. It paints a picture of inevitable parts of grief and the journey of remembering the person who has died.

Sade and Her Shadow Beasts by Rachel Faturoti

Age range: KS2

This book deals sensitively with the emotions following a close family bereavement; encouraging children to talk openly about their feelings. It follows the story of Sade, who has been using her great imagination to escape her grief. But when her imaginary world begins to crumble, she must find the words and strength to confront how she is really feeling.