ABSTRACT
Throughout this book are ideas, activities and tips for helping children to deal with their grief. There will naturally be some that children are more comfortable with than others, and some that they are more drawn towards. My hope is that you can help the child to fill up their own first aid kit, filled with activities or tips that they feel work for them; things that they might like to revisit at another time. The first aid kit can help children in a few ways. It can:
Help children to remember there are things and people that can help.
Empower children to help themselves.
Remind children to access helpful activities when they need them.
Help children to trust their own inner wisdom.
Help to build children’s self-confidence, self-esteem and resilience.
The first aid kit can be completed on paper: the child might like to create a poster or a pocket-sized first aid kit. It could also be a physical box, using an empty shoe or tissue box. Talk through the options with the child, it is to be their first aid kit, so helping them to take part in its creation is key. Suggest that they come up with a label for it that might mean something special to them. Encourage them to make the label and attach it to the box. It becomes theirs – a special box for special things.