The Garden A Center for Grieving Children and Teens

11/17/2025

🧡 Let’s for grieving kids and teens.
NACG National Alliance for Children's Grief is on a mission to help young people feel seen, heard, and supported — especially during tough times like the holidays.
Instead of saying, “The holidays must be so hard for you,” try:
👉 “I’m so happy to see you. I know sometimes the holidays can be hard after someone dies.”
It’s a small shift that makes a big difference.
Let’s show up with compassion and connection. Learn more and explore supportive language at nacg.org/practice-flip-the-script 💛

Grant opportunities made possible by committed funding partners power up grief support for children in communities across the United States.

11/12/2025

National Children's Grief Awareness Day is November 20 — a vital time to learn how to support grieving children and teens with empathy, presence, and age-appropriate care.
Here are meaningful ways you can help a child or teen navigate grief:

🧠 Understand Their Experience
- Grief looks different for every child and teen. It may show up as sadness, anger, withdrawal, confusion, or even seeming “normal”.
- Developmental stage matters. Younger children may not fully grasp death’s permanence, while teens may struggle with identity, isolation, or existential questions.
🗣️ Communicate Openly
- Invite conversation without pressure. Let them know you’re available and interested in how they’re feeling.
- Use honest, age-appropriate language. Avoid euphemisms like “gone to sleep” which can confuse younger children.
🎨 Encourage Expression
- Offer creative outlets. Drawing, journaling, storytelling, or music can help children express emotions they can’t yet verbalize.
- Let them choose how they want to remember. Some may want to talk about the person who died; others may prefer quiet reflection.
🧍 Be Present and Consistent
- Show up and stay consistent. Your presence is more powerful than perfect words.
- Maintain routines. Familiar structure helps children feel safe during emotional upheaval.
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Connect Them with Peers and Support
- Peer support groups can be transformative. Programs like The Garden in Northampton offer safe spaces for children and teens to share and heal together.
- School-based grief groups provide ongoing support in familiar environments.

💙 How You Can Get Involved Locally
If you're in Northampton, MA, check us out — we offer family programs and school outreach to support grieving youth.
Whether you're a parent, teacher, coach, or neighbor, your compassion can make a lasting difference.

11/07/2025

🕊️ Grief deserves space—and support.
In Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice's adult support groups, we begin our 8-week journey with the Mourners Bill of Rights by Dr. Alan Wolfelt. It’s a powerful reminder that grieving is not only natural, but necessary—and that seeking support is valid. I always offer extra copies of the list to share with loved ones, because too often, grievers feel pressured to justify their pain.

💬 But what about children and teens?
They don’t have the same access to support systems as adults. That’s why it’s so important for us—caring adults—to recognize and respond to their unique needs. We created a handout to help bridge that gap, offering guidance for both teens and the adults in their lives.

📄 Check it out and share widely. Let’s make sure no one has to grieve alone.

11/05/2025

🦋 November 20th is National Children's Grief Awareness Day 💙
Grief is a journey no child should walk alone. Today, we honor the millions of children who are grieving the loss of someone they love. Whether it's a parent, sibling, grandparent, or friend — their pain is real, and their healing deserves our support.

💬 Let’s break the silence around childhood grief. 💙 Wear blue to show your support. 🌱 Reach out, listen, and let grieving children know they are not alone.

Together, we can create a world where every grieving child feels seen, heard, and supported.

10/31/2025

🌺 Celebrating Life Through Día de los Mu***os 🌺

November 1–2 marks Día de los Mu***os, a beautiful tradition that helps us talk to children about death in a loving, joyful way. Families gather to honor those who have passed—not with sadness, but with music, food, and color.

We build altars with photos, candles, and favorite treats of our loved ones. We visit cemeteries, tell stories, and celebrate the lives that shaped us. It’s a time to remember that love never dies—it lives on in our hearts and traditions.

Let’s teach our children that death isn’t the end—it’s a continuation of memory, spirit, and connection. 💖 Visit the Coalition of Grieving Students to learn more about the traditions - chrome-extensio://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.schoolcrisiscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Day-of-the-Dead.pdf

***os

10/29/2025

🎃 Halloween & Grieving Students: A Gentle Reminder
Halloween is a time of costumes, candy, and spooky fun—but for students who are grieving, the holiday’s focus on death and fright can be unexpectedly painful.
🖤 Skeletons, ghosts, and graveyards may seem harmless, but they can stir up strong emotions for those coping with loss.
👂 A simple check-in can make a world of difference. Ask how they’re feeling. Offer space to talk—or not talk. Let them know they’re seen.

Grief doesn’t take holidays off. Let’s be mindful, supportive, and kind this season. To read the entire article from the Coalition to Support Grieving Students, visit chrome-extensio://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.schoolcrisiscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Halloween-Mini-Article.pdf

10/27/2025

🌧️ Grief doesn’t follow a script—and that’s okay. If you’re a teen navigating loss, you’re not alone. Whether you feel numb, angry, or just confused, your feelings are valid.

💬 “There’s no right way to grieve. Just your way.”
🛠️ Try this:
- Breathe. Move. Create.
- Talk to someone who listens.
- Be kind to yourself.

📘 Check out ’s guide: Now What? Tips for Teens Who Are Grieving for support that meets you where you are. https://www.dougy.org/grief-support-resources/teens

10/22/2025

Children's Grief Awareness Day is a powerful reminder of the emotional journeys children face after losing someone close. It's observed annually on the Thursday before Thanksgiving, which means in 2025, it will fall on Thursday, November 20.

💙 This day encourages:
- Greater understanding of the unique ways children experience grief.
- Community support through conversations, activities, and outreach.
- Wearing blue to show solidarity with grieving children.
- Sharing stories and resources to help children feel seen and supported.

If you're looking to get involved, many organizations offer toolkits, host events, or encourage social media participation, visit https://www.childrensgriefawarenessday.org/cgad2/participate/index.shtml

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10/20/2025

🌈 Kids face all kinds of stress and hardship — and sometimes, a simple activity can make a big difference.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, school counselor, or grief therapist, this tool might be just what you need. What's Your Grief has a full video on the Coping Skills Fortune Teller craft activity that will allow kids to express, process, and heal 💛

https://whatsyourgrief.com/cool-crafts-for-coping-coping-skills-fortune-teller/

Instead of writing things on the inside like "You will live in a mansion with four dogs," we are going to write coping skills.

10/15/2025

We offer programs designed to support families, along with specialized services within schools.

📞 If you or someone you know could benefit from our support, don’t hesitate to reach out—call us today!

10/10/2025

🕊️ Talking About Death with Children

Grief is hard — especially for kids. But discussing deceased loved ones in an honest, age-appropriate way helps children feel safe, supported, and connected. 💬

Whether it’s sharing memories, answering questions, or simply sitting with their feelings, these moments matter. You don’t need perfect words — just your presence and love.

Let’s normalize these conversations and help our children grow with empathy and resilience. 💛

To learn more about how and when you should discuss the death of a loved one to a child, visit What's Your Grief? https://whatsyourgrief.com/should-i-discuss-deceased-loved-ones-with-my-child/

Every once in a while, someone asks us - "Should I discuss deceased loved ones with my child, or will it upset or frighten them?"

10/06/2025

That’s a deeply compassionate and insightful reflection. You’ve captured something essential: grief in children isn’t just about explaining death—it’s about being a steady, loving presence in the storm of confusion. Their questions aren’t always about facts; they’re often invitations to connect, to feel safe, to be seen.
Here are a few ways adults can support grieving children meaningfully:

🧸 Ways to Support a Grieving Child
- Validate their feelings: Let them know it’s okay to feel sad, angry, confused, or even numb. There’s no “wrong” way to grieve.
- Use simple, honest language: Euphemisms like “gone to sleep” can be confusing. Clear, age-appropriate explanations help build understanding.
- Answer questions patiently: Even if the same question is asked repeatedly, each time is a chance to offer comfort and clarity.
- Maintain routines: Familiar structure can provide a sense of stability when everything else feels uncertain.
- Encourage expression: Drawing, storytelling, or play can help children process emotions they can’t yet verbalize.
- Model healthy grieving: Let them see you cry, talk about your feelings, and remember the person who died. It shows them that grief is natural and survivable.
Your words remind us that presence—quiet, loving, consistent—is often the most healing gift we can offer.