Scream Box
Appropriate expression of grief is an important part of the healing process. The Scream Box provides a safe, appropriate place for children to express their grief. Any type of box (shoe, cereal, cookie, etc.) can be decorated and serve as a Scream Box. As you help your child make the Scream Box, be sure to tell them that they have to let you know when they want to use it so you aren’t startled by a sudden scream in the house.
Heartbreak Pot
In this exercise, a terracotta pot will be broken, painted, then glued back together. It symbolizes the pain of grief and the strength of family and love.
The loss of a sibling can make a child feel like their world has shattered. They may not understand why or how they are feeling. A physical expression of feeling “shattered” can be therapeutic. It can help a child express the anger they may feel at their loss.
Take a terracotta pot and break it into pieces. Your child can help you with this or you can just have them watch. After the pot has been shattered, decorate the broken pieces and glue them back together. Talk with your child about how they might feel “broken” or “shattered” and let them see that love can help hold everyone together. The reassembled and decorated pot can be put on a shelf as a reminder of pain, love, loss, and the power of family.