Has your child been impacted by death?
Learn how you can you offer help even when your own heart is breaking.
This little handbook is written to equip you with child-friendly language and engaging activities that enable you and your child to navigate grief together. It is packed with ideas you can use as soon as you have read it the first time through.
Childhood bereavement has long been a critical issue. Why? Because unresolved childhood grief is a major cause of later problems in school, relationship issues, depression, risk-taking behaviors, and suicide. For a child under 10, the death of someone in the family can impact emotional wellbeing for life. A child needs help to understand what they are experiencing after a death, to tell and retell their story, to express their feelings, and above all to know someone cares. All these things are “griefwork” and are essential to recovery.
The author, a social worker, was a grieving child. Her children were grieving kids at ages 5 and 10 when their older brother died. She professionally supported grieving children in hospice, public-schools, and church settings for 30 years. She believes the best way to help children today is to equip you, the parent or caregiver, with script and tools to support them. In an easy to read, conversational style, with the voice of experience, she shares her story, her faith, insights, and creative, interactive activities you can do together.
Purchase this book to get what you need to give your grieving child or children what they need.
Mel Erickson BA, CT (ret), received her training and experience working as asocial worker and bereavement coordinator for hospice. In 1997 she co-founded anon-profit serving the bereaved community as a resource for education andsupport. Mel received National Professional Certification as a BereavementFacilitator from the American Academy of Bereavement in 1996 and was Certifiedin Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement by ADEC (Association for DeathEducation and Counseling) in 2003.
Mel experienced multiple deaths as a child. Her surviving adult childrenwere 5 and 10 when their brother died. Her passion has been coming alongsidechildren who have experienced a death. She co-authored Teen Talk, An8-Week Curriculum for Grieving Teenagers. She wrote the 'OurStory,' memory book as a tool to help children tell their storyand process their grief. As a presenter, she has spoken and delivered traininginternationally. She has coordinated the GriefShare ministry at her church andmore recently has returned to working with grieving youth.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she is now focused on training and equippingcaring adults to help bereaved children. To that end she has opened a website,started a newsletter, and recently published three books:
Kid Talk A Faith-Based Curriculum for Grieving Kids
Our Story: A Memory Book
12 Tips and Tools to Help A Grieving Child
What I Wish I Had Known When MySon Died.
Mel and herhusband have lived in Tacoma, WA since 1976. Three adult children and twoadorable grandchildren enrich their lives.
Learn moreat kidtalkgrief.com.
