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Nelson's Journey | Child Bereavement Help for Norfolk
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Supporting younger children

Younger children will experience grief when someone significant dies.

Up to the age of 5, children may struggle with understanding the permanence of death. They may use words without fully knowing what they mean. It’s often helpful to use direct language with younger children to help them understand what’s happened.

Behaviours may change. Younger children may quickly move between visible expressions of grief and their normal behaviours. They may become more anxious when apart from other significant people, and they may find it harder to keep to their usual sleep patterns.

The resources and information on this page are intended to help families and professionals to understand and support younger children following a significant death.

‘I feel …’ feelings activities for younger children

Younger children will experience a range of different feelings following a death, which is sometimes confusing for them. We’ve put together activity sheets for some of our favourite activities that you can use with younger bereaved children to explore and manage their feelings:

  • ‘I feel angry!’ – help your child to create a sensory bottle, which they can use to help feel calm
  • ‘I feel scared’ – create a safe space with blankets and pillows
  • ‘I feel worried’ – a worry eater can help children to manage their worries
  • ‘I feel different’ – make biscuit faces and talk over different feelings with your child

Maybe you’ve got your own ‘I feel…’ activities that you’d like to share with us? Please let us know on our Facebook page!

I feel angry! Let’s make a sensory bottle

Download

I feel scared! Let’s make a safe space

Download

I feel worried: Let’s make a worry eater

Download

I feel different: Let’s make feelings biscuits

Download

Resources you can use at home

You can download and make use of our free resources to support your child

Stressbuster leaflet

Download

FAQs (printable version)

Download

Memory Activities

Download

Memory Book

Download

At Time of Bereavement Booklet

Download

Ways to remember

Download

Anger Management

Download

Book List for Parents and Carers

Download

Sleep tips for younger children

Download

Memory Bricks

Download

Activity sheet: ‘Things I loved about you’

Download

Activity sheet: ‘Things I remember about you’

Download

Talk to us about supporting your child

Please note: we are only able to talk to you about supporting children who live in Norfolk

If you would like to speak to us about supporting your child, please call us on 01603 431 788. You will be put through to one of our Child Bereavement Support Workers, who are available on our Support Line between:

Monday            9:30am – 4:30pm
Tuesday            9:30am – 4:30pm
Wednesday      9:30am – 4:30pm
Thursday          1:30pm – 4:30pm
Friday               9:30am – 4:00pm

We are closed on bank holidays and at weekends.

“After his appointment he said it was good to get things off his chest, and that it’s OK if we both get a bit upset when we talk about his Dad.” Claire

Positive Activities

We offer children and young people referred to us (and on occasions their families) the opportunity to take part in one off positive activities.  These may include outings, events or activities that offer children and young people the opportunity to meet others who’ve had similar experiences and help them relax and enjoy themselves. These positive activities may be run by NJ staff or by other providers and partners.

Online forum

Our forum for children and young people to share their feelings, memories and experiences.  All messages are monitored by Nelson’s Journey before they go on the forum.  It’s only for young people supported by NJ and there are photos and videos.  We can let you know your children’s login details as soon as we receive a referral.

We can meet you at Smiles House, our home near Norwich, NR13 5FH We have a range of places where we can meet to make you and your children feel at ease We can meet you at The Norfolk Hospice - Tapping House (near King's Lynn) PE31 6BH. We can speak to you online and on video calls We can meet you at school We can meet you at the Louise Hamilton Centre, next to the James Paget Hospital (near Great Yarmouth) NR31 6LA.
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About Us

Nelson’s Journey is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Registered Charity 1170605
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HOW TO FIND US

Contact Us

  • 01603 431788
  • www.nelsonsjourney.org.uk

  • enquiries@nelsonsjourney.org.uk

Nelson’s Journey, Bradbury Building - Smiles House, Octagon Business Park, Hospital Road, Little Plumstead, Norwich, NR13 5FH
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