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Young boy sitting on grass with his head resting in his hands

How to help a child after the death of a parent

The death of a parent can be one of the most devastating experiences a child can experience. Everyone grieves differently and how a child reacts and copes with their grief can depend on a number of things, including their age or developmental stage, their relationship to their parent and the ...
Mum and two young children sat on a bench looking at countryside - bereavement support services from Winston's Wish

How to explain death to a child

Death can be a difficult concept for children to understand, especially young children, and it can be equally difficult to know how to begin to explain it. We find it’s best to be honest, explain what has happened in a clear way and let them know they can ask questions ...
Explaining homicide to children

How do you remember Mum on Mother’s Day?

Mother’s Day can be especially difficult for children and young people who have lost their mum or another special female role model in their life. From adverts to social media posts, it can be difficult to avoid Mother’s Day and this can be a constant reminder that your mum is ...
Thankful tree activity - Photo of a hand drawn tree with green leaves with writing on

Make and talk activity for children: Thankful Tree

Grief can be overwhelming for children (and adults) with lots of different emotions and questions swirling around their head. The Thankful Tree is an activity that allows children a moment to take a step back from all those overwhelming emotions and focus on the things they currently have in their ...
Young boy looking out to sea - helping a child talk about grief - Winston's Wish

Helping a child or young person to talk about their grief

When a child or young person is grieving, talking to someone about their grief and emotions may not be something they feel comfortable with or want to do, even if a parent or professional may like them to. Here are some ways to help a child talk about their grief ...
Snowmen strike activity

Christmas Make and Talk activity for children: Snowman Strike

Christmas time can be really difficult for grieving children and families. Whether it’s been a few months or several years, we know grief isn’t a step-by-step process and no two people have the same experience. Lots of things might change, but it’s important to try and make some new traditions. ...
What is grief

What is grief? Young people share what grief is to them

Grief is the term used to describe the feelings you have after someone has died. Grief is different for everyone but experiencing grief for the first time as a child or young person can present even more challenges than experiencing grief as an adult. We asked young people with experience ...

How can military families remember someone who has died?

There are many occasions when children, young people and families will remember someone who has died. Maybe on their birthday, anniversaries, religious festivals and any days that are significant to them. For military families, there are also public days, including Remembrance Day and Armed Forces Day, when you will think ...
Straw rockets make and talk activity - Winston's Wish

Make and talk activity for children: Straw Rockets

Children may find it difficult to talk about their grief, so we suggest doing a ‘make and talk’ activity to keep them occupied while having a conversation. Bonfire night is a very exciting time for children – fireworks, rockets, sparklers! Everything is brightly coloured and there are lots of activities ...
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