Death is difficult for most of us to understand, but it’s even more challenging for children. In the midst of a death or loss in the family, children’s unique needs can sometimes be overlooked. When a child is grieving, it is important to not only provide comfort and sympathy and also include some fun to distract them from the heaviness of the situation. I have sent many of these items to kids after experiencing a loss, and they have been well received by the children and their families.
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- Shuttle Art Sets: Looking for a creative gift? Shuttle Art sets allow you to inspire creativity in your gift recipients of all ages. Many sets include paints, brushes, canvases, and come in nice cases. https://amzn.to/421IRfU
- Skittles POP’d: Candy is good, but some candies taste even better when they are freeze-dried! Grab a bag of these delicious, freeze-dried skittles in original or sour, or one of each! https://amzn.to/4nwoNue
- The Invisible String book series: This amazing book series offers comfort to grieving children and helps them to better understand death and loss. Pair a book with the Invisible String workbook which offers creative activities to further express their feelings: https://amzn.to/42NNb1Y
- Melissa & Doug Toys: This company makes so many cool toys that spark imagination and creativity. I especially like their reusable sticker and play food sets: https://amzn.to/4lXTfMW
- Nee Doh: These toys are a fun sensory experience for kids and adults. They come in various shapes and sizes and are a squishy cool way to be silly and de-stress! https://amzn.to/4j9f6jF
- Angel Catcher for Kids Grief Journal: This beautiful grief journal gives a space to process feelings and find hope along their journey on their own timeline. It can be very therapeutic for children who are grieving. https://amzn.to/4pMVPaX
- Haribo: Their gummies are top tier! Some of my favorites are Peaches, Happy Cola, and Berries; my daughter loves Goldbears and Berry Clouds. Amazon has a Haribo collection that rivals most Buc-ee’s convenience stores! Haha https://amzn.to/4bMgVQb
- Klutz: They make so many cool crafts and activity books for kids including DIY bath bombs, volcanos, friendship bracelets, rocks, sewing projects, etc. https://amzn.to/4hzCXam
- Slumberkins: These sweet little plushies and lovies were created to help children better understand their emotions and communicate their feelings. I especially like the Sprite Bundle that is helps children grieve by saying goodbye and offering comfort: https://amzn.to/4nlRjP0
- Boxer Gifts stress balls: This company makes the cutest little stress ball critters! They have a Calma Llama, Stress Hog, Kalma Kitty, Mooody Cow, Zenguin, and Stress Shroom. https://amzn.to/4pSvAQA
- Nerds Gummy Clusters: Nerds have been around for a long time, but when Gummy Clusters came along, they were game changers! My favorites are Rainbow and Very Berry, but I also like trying the new flavors they release throughout the year. These delicious sweet-sour-crunchy bites are currently the #1 gummy candy on Amazon, try them and you’ll see why! https://amzn.to/4bM3nEi
- Grief in Color: Many people find coloring to be relaxing and therapeutic. Because grieving a loss can be overwhelming, sometimes having something simple and straightforward is best. This coloring book offers prompts for journaling feelings and emotions along with beautiful images to color. Pair with colored pencils/thin markers for a thoughtful gift: https://amzn.to/4kp1v8w
Some of these gifts were selected specifically for children to gain a better understanding of the death and to find ways to celebrate their treasured lost loved ones. Hopefully the children who receive these gifts will feel a sense of comfort and peace in the midst of their sadness!