About the Story and Activity
In this story, we want to name and validate feelings of sadness in children who have experienced the death of someone they loved. It is okay to feel those big and deep feelings - and families should try to make space for them as you navigate grief together.
When we think of each life as one in a chain of many lives, we can imagine that we will meet our loved ones again. We can do what Laith does - connect with the person we lost - using a magic telephone, or taking a quiet moment to reflect and think about them. We can send them our feelings of love and gratitude, and can feel their love and blessings sent back to us, too.
One of the hardest things about death is the silence; not being able to contact or connect with the person who has died. But the magic telephone reminds us that we don’t have to see someone in order to speak to them. We just have to close our eyes and dream.
What You'll Need
Paper or cardboard
Scissors
Felt-pens or crayons
Instructions
Cut out a star shape from paper or cardboard.
Ask your child to think about the special person who has died. If they had one more minute with them, what would you like to say to them or tell them about? You could prompt them by sharing your own thoughts about what you would share - maybe it’s a cherished memory or recent achievement.
Now ask your child to draw pictures that represent those things on the points of the star. Help them to write the person’s name on the star if they’re not yet able to write by themselves.
Ask your child where they’d like to keep the decoration - on a window, a wall, or even under their pillow. It will become a visual aid to help your child talk about, remember and feel connected to the person who has died.