Coping with grief for toddlers: books that help and comfort

Coping with grief for toddlers: books that help and comfort

Borken, Deutschland - grief can also hit the little ones! When small children lose a loved one, they often face a confusing reality. But the world of books offers consolation and explanations. Latest picture book highlights help to make the difficult topic of death for children from two years more understandable. The stories are not only intended for the little ones, but also for the parents, who often do not know how to deal with the loss.

An outstanding example is "Mom, is there Dinos in heaven?" by Kai Renners. Here the little Mattis wonders where his late grandfather is now. The idea that Grandpa plays with dinosaurs in heaven brings him joy in the middle of grief. "I wanted to give the children a positive feeling," explains Renners. Instead of pathetic pictures of graves, he creates an imaginative world in which death can not only be sad, but also beautiful.

happy stories for sad times

in "How can it be in heaven?" From Christian and Fabian Jeremies, the idea of the sky becomes a place full of fun and joy. The little animal children speculate about delicious moon dishes and the celebrating grandparents. Such stories not only offer a valve for grief, but also a space for memories, which sees psychologist Roland Kachler as essential for the processing of loss.

Another impressive work is "Grandpa now lives somewhere else" by Susanne Bohne. Here the mouse child Emil experiences a roller coaster of feelings - from despite anger to sadness. "It is important that children understand that grief has many facets," says Bohne. These stories not only open a dialogue about death, but also give the parents a voice in times of speechlessness. The power of the picture books is shown by the fact that they accompany both children and adults through the difficult times.