The document provides suggestions for grief counseling activities for children and adolescents coping with loss. The activities are designed to [1] demonstrate to children that they remain connected to the deceased person through shared characteristics and memories, [2] have group members discuss and visualize ways they stay linked to the person who died through things that remind them, and [3] allow older children to express their feelings by writing a fictional letter from the deceased person addressing their death. The goal is to help grieving children and teens feel ongoing bonds and provide an outlet to process their emotions.

1. UNBREAKABLE – SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES
1. Connected For Life (Ages 4-14)
Goal: It has been found that maintaining the bond or connection with the deceased helps
the griever achieve a healthier outcome to their mourning process. This activity
demonstrates to the child that, in spite of the death, they are still connected to their person
that died.
Supplies: Worksheet, markers
Instructions:
Explain to the group that they will always be connected to their person that died.
Brainstorm ways in which they can “see” that connection. Examples: they have the same
eye color, they like the same flavor ice cream, or they have something special that belonged
to the person. Then, ask them to draw arrows between the child and adult figures on their
worksheet and write on the arrows the way they are connected.
2. Life Links (any age)
Goal: to initiate a conversation about the ways group members stay connected to their
person who died.
Also provides a visual way of remembering special memories of him/ her.
Supplies: strips of colored paper (6 x 2 inches); crayons, markers; stapler or tape
Instructions:
Brainstorm ways or things that still connect or “link” us to the person who died Examples:
hearing songs by the Beatles reminds me of my mom’s favorite group; the smell of the
ocean reminds me of how much fun we used to have together at the beach.
Ask each child to write their own name on one strip of paper and the name of the deceased
on another. Then write down on other strips of paper the names of things or situations that
“link” you to your person who died.
Connect the strips into a chain with the group members name on one end and the other
person’s name at the other end.
Optional: connect all the chains in the group together and discuss how the group members
are linked to each other because of the feelings and experiences they share.
3. Letter to __________From Me (ages 11-18)
Goals:
This activity gives children an opportunity to connect to their person who died by “thinking’
what that person would write them in a letter. Also allows for expression of feelings and
thoughts in a safe format.
Supplies:
Photocopies of the letter, pens, and pencils.
Instructions:
Complete the sentences as if the letter was from your person who died or write a letter from
scratch.

2. ©OUR HOUSE 2009
LETTER FROM ___________TO ME…
Dear ________________________ (my name)
I want to let you know . . .
I am sorry . . .
I hope you know . . .
I know it has been difficult lately, especially . . .
Concerning this difficulty, the advice I would give you is . . .
I remember the time we . . .
I miss . . .
I am so proud of you, especially . . .
The one thing I wish I told you before I died is . . .
I really want you to know that…
It is okay to…
What I want for you is…
With love,
_______________________________________ (your person who died)

3. ©OUR HOUSE 2009