Join The Solace Tree's Community Today

 Before working with a child or teen during a loss, it is important that one explores their own thoughts and feelings about death. Unless one is unable to address their own issues regarding death, it will be impossible to help others, especially children and teens. Throughout the year Solace Tree will provide activities for the reader to explore the loss of their loved one(s). Take the time to answer some of the questions that are offered below. Make this a learning adventure for yourself. Save your answers and keep them for upcoming activities. 

Write down the memories you had for the person who died according to the season you most remember. For example, my grandmother enjoyed walking around Idlewild park and along the Truckee river in the fall. I would then talk about other things we did when she was alive for each of the seasons.

Summer –

Fall –

Winter –

Spring –

• Draw a time line of your life span.
• What was your first experience with death?
• What were the years of all of your death experiences?
• How did your friend, pet, or family member die?
• Who told you about the death?
• How old were you?
• What was your reaction?
• Where were you, when someone told you about the death of your mom, dad,
  sibling, pet, or grandparent?
• How did family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers treat you?
• Did anybody help you through the grief process?
• How did you grieve? (Grief is a normal reaction to loss – an emotional
  response)
• How did you mourn? (Mourning is taking the internal expereince of grief and expressing it outside ourselves – rituals, reactions, expression, etc.)
• Are you still mourning?
• Are you still grieving?
• Did counseling or therapy help?
• Was there any support groups?
• What has helped the loss in your life difficult or helpful?

  Finish the following statements in your own words:

• As a child, I remember feeling the following about death:
• I remember thinking:
• This is what I was told happens when someone dies:
• I was most curious about:
• These were the family secrets about death:
• These are the people who talked to me about death:
• These were the questions I wanted to ask, but never did:
• As an adult, this is what I believe about death:
• As an adult, I am most curious about:

 Remember a special time you had with the person who died. Capture that moment in a story or a picture. As you write or draw, feel the feelings you experienced with your loved one and show those feelings in your writing or drawing.

You can do this activity again on another day using a topic below:

• Remember a funny moment
• Remember an angry moment
• Remember a happy moment
• Remember a scary moment
• Remember a loving moment
• Remember a frustrating moment

Have a question or a suggestion? We're always here to help. Contact us today and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.