Virtual Children's Grief Awareness Day
On Thursday, November 18, 2021, the Highmark Caring Place hosted the Second Annual VIRTUAL Children's Grief Awareness Day.
The schedule of the day's presentations and activities are shown below, including links to those Presentations and to the Activities Sheets that accompanied some presentations. All the videos are also available on a YouTube or Facebook playlist for viewing at any time.
8 am Empowering Children to Feel Safe to Say "I'm Not OK" Children's Grief Awareness Day Kick-Off (Terese LaVallee, Sally Wiggin, Merril Hoge, Vicki Jay, and Neil Walker)
9 am It's OK to Remember "If I Could Turn Back Time" Presentation and Worksheets (Valerie's House Fort Myers, Naples & Punta Gorda, Florida)
10 am "Ride the Wave" and "Living Life While Grieving" Songs (Josh & Gab - Pittsburgh, PA) with "Ride the Wave" Activity (Highmark Caring Place Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) "Ride the Wave" Worksheet
11 am It's OK to Show Your Feelings Middle/High School Block includes:
- 11 am "Widow at 19" Presentation (Mollie Landman Hunker Grove City, Pennsylvania)
- 11:30 am "Feelings Mask" Activity Presentation and "Feelings Mask" Worksheet (Brighter Days Grief Center Eden Prairie, Minnesota)
12 pm "Companion Planting" Presentation and "Companion Planting" Worksheet (AgWorks Program Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
1 pm It's OK to Be Sad – Author Interview & Activity, with "Today's Feelings Book" Handout featuring the author of Jenny Mei Is Sad (Tracy Subisak Portland, Oregon)
2 pm "It's OK to Not Be OK" Grief Talks Webinar (Highmark Caring Place)
3 pm It's OK to Tell Your Story – A Conversation About Grief with Holocaust Survivor & Author Dr. Edith Eva Eger (La Jolla, California); "Meet Dr. Eger" handout
4 pm It's OK to Grieve Together – "When Someone Dies: Activity Cards for Young Children" Presentation with Activity Cards Handout (National Alliance for Children's Grief Lubbock, Texas)
5 pm It's OK to Dance "It's a Beautiful Day" Mister Rogers' Tribute featuring recording artist FRZY (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
6 pm It's OK to Express Yourself Activities include:
- 6 pm "Scream Boxes" Activity Presentation with "Scream Boxes" Activity Worksheet (The Irish Childhood Bereavement Network)
- 6:15 pm "Response" Activity Presentation (Roberta’s House)
- 6:30 pm "Memory Stones" Activity Presentation with "Memory Stones" Activity Worksheet (Trying Together)
- 6:45 pm Various Grief Activities Presentation, including the "Butterfly Project" Handout (ACH Clear Pathways)
7 pm It's OK to Share Your Grief MTV's Beautiful Something Left Behind Panel Discussion featuring Director Katrine Philp, Producer Katrine Sahlstrøm, and members of the cast (Copenhagen, Denmark & Robbinsville, New Jersey)
8 pm It's OK to Keep the Memory of Our Loved Ones Alive "Time of Remembrance" featuring:
- 2021 Illuminating Hope Mosaic Mural reveal
- Moment of Remembrance
- "Hope" artwork creation & reveal by "Paints by Kait" Seattle, Washington
9 pm "Thank You for Supporting Us" a message from grieving children, families, and organizations who support grieving children from around the world
Illuminating HOPE
After a loved one dies, there is a sense in which life feels darker, as if some light and color are drained from the world.
The Highmark Caring Place invites you to help shine a light of hope in this darkness through our Virtual Illuminating HOPE campaign.
Illuminating HOPE is a one of a kind gathering of virtual butterflies, each one a message of love and honor and support. People from across the world create and contribute virtual butterflies:
- In MEMORY of loved ones who have died
- In HONOR of a child or adult who is grieving
- In SUPPORT of grieving children, adults, and families everywhere
The butterflies are added to a special Butterfly Garden on the Illuminating HOPE website. These messages of transformation and hope show children that they are not alone that they are cared about and supported in their grief.
Seen as a whole, this garden is beacon of hope to all who are grieving the death of a loved one.
Go to HOPE.HighmarkCaringPlace.com to participate in our virtual Illuminating HOPE.
Other Activities
Many other activities, large and small, can raise awareness of grieving children. Look through the activities described here, or come up with some of your own, and do what you can to spread the word to those around you of the impact of death on children and of the importance of support in helping them to find HOPE in the midst of their grief.
Important Considerations as You Become Involved in Children's Grief Awareness Day Activities
As an important person in the life of children, there are a few things that are important for you to be aware of as you become involved in Children's Grief Awareness Day:
- The purpose of Children's Grief Awareness Day is to call attention to the issue of children's grief, not to any particular child or children who have suffered a loss. Some children will want their grief recognized while others will prefer to keep it private. Always be certain to check with any child before calling attention to his or her circumstances.
- The activities of Children's Grief Awareness Day can cause a possible "trigger" reaction in those who have had someone close to them die, regardless of how much time has passed since the death. Be alert for signs of grief reactions and be prepared to provide support as needed.
- If you are in a school setting, all personnel should be aware of any Children's Grief Awareness Day activities whether or not they are directly involved. Parents and guardians should be made aware of any planned activities as well. All messages used in conjunction with any activity should be appropriate to the developmental age of the children involved.
The most basic way to participate in Children’s Grief Awareness Day is to have as many people as possible—children and adults—wear blue. Publicity about the reason for wearing blue—to show awareness of grieving children—allows the entire community to know what Children's Grief Awareness Day is about.
Activities for families
The descriptions of the following activities are oriented mostly toward groups or organizations, but many of them can also be easily adapted for families or individuals. As you read through the list of options, see what would work best for you and your family!
Publicizing your activities
If you're planning an event for Children's Grief Awareness Day, let people in your area know what will be coming up by publishing announcements in media including bulletin boards and newsletters, Facebook pages and websites. Look here for ideas on how to word these announcements in the weeks and days leading up to your event.
Activities
Please take some time to look at the many activities that have been shared with us from partner organizations over the years. If you have additional ideas for activities, please share them with us. We will highlight as many as possible.
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Grief education |
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Holding On To HOPE Pledge |
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Local grief support programs |
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Social media |
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Facebook |
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Spread the Word |
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Blue |
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Profile picture |
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Information table and posters |
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Artistic displays |
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Local events |
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Blue out |
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Blue decorations |
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HOPE illumination |
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Aerial photograph |
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Butterfly formation |
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Memory wall |
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Butterfly release |
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Fundraisers |
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HOPE chains |
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Signed T-shirts |
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Art show |
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Videos |
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Public officials |
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Bake sale |
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Flash mob |
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Face painting |
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Thumbprint tree |
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Butterfly masks |
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Butterfly magnets |
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Banners |
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Memory ribbons |
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HOPE display |
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Butterfly paintings |
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Luminaries |
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Decorated T-shirts |
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Wall of hope |