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
I feel scared! Let’s make a safe space
I feel worried: Let’s make a worry eater
I feel different: Let’s make feelings biscuits
Resources you can use at home
You can download and make use of our free resources to support your child
FAQs (printable version)
Memory Book
At Time of Bereavement Booklet
Ways to remember
Anger Management
Book List for Parents and Carers
Sleep tips for younger children
Memory Bricks
Activity sheet: ‘Things I loved about you’
Activity sheet: ‘Things I remember about you’
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 1:30pm – 4:30pm
Thursday 9:30am – 4:30pm
Friday 9:30am – 4:00pm
We are closed on bank holidays and at weekends.
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.
Contact Us
Nelson’s Journey, Bradbury Building - Smiles House, Octagon Business Park, Hospital Road, Little Plumstead, Norwich, NR13 5FH
