Children's Grief Awareness Day

Many children will experience the death of a person close to them.  Children's Grief Awareness Day is the day to acknowledge the grief children go through when they have experienced a death in their lives.

Loving and understanding parents and caregivers are key for children as they grieve.  However, sharing books about death and dying can also be very beneficial to children.  Books are something children are familiar with and to be able to identify with a character in a story who is facing similar feelings can be comforting to a child.  Books can also help parents and caregivers understand their children's feelings and how to help them through the difficult times.

The Bellevue Public Library has a special kit specifically for this purpose.  It was donated to the library from Ted E. Bear Hollow--a center for grieving children and teens in the Omaha Metro.  This kit, First Aid Kits for Grieving Hearts, contains books about death and dying which are written specially for children.  They address tender feelings in appropriate ways and answers questions simply for children.

The kit includes these items:

• A bunch of balloons
• A complete book about death for kids
• Children grieve, too
• Finding Grandpa everywhere
• I heard your Daddy died
• I heard your Mommy died
• I know I made it happen
• Lifetimes : the beautiful way to explain death to children
• Lilacs for Grandma
• Lost and found : remembering a sister
• Since my brother died (Desde que murio mi hermano)
• The healing tree
• The saddest time
• What does that mean? : a dictionary of death, dying and grief terms for grieving children, and those who love them
• When Mommy went to Heaven
• When someone dies
• A benefit for BearHUGS (DVD)--An introduction to Ted E. Bear Hollow and what parents can do to help their grieving child(ren)
• Flyer and information about Ted E. Bear Hollow
• A teddy bear to cuddle (and keep!)

Although parents and caregivers hope they will never have to deal with death, being aware of local resources can benefit families when the need arises.  A special educational event at the library is being planned for January for parents, caregivers, and other adults who interact with children.  This event will feature a workshop for these caring adults, facilitated by Ted E. Bear Hollow, while children will enjoy stories, songs, and activities in another room.  Watch for details in our January calendar!