When Something Terrible Happens: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief

by Marge Eaton Heegaard

Creates ways for children to explore the fright, confusion, and insecurity caused by traumatic events in their lives.

Genres: Childrens, Grief

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

MA ATR LICSW

Reviews

[Arin Brutlag · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is intended as a workbook for children ages 6-12 to work through their feelings after they have witnessed a traumatic event. There are six sections: 1) Sudden Change and Loss, 2) Grief: A Natural Reaction to Loss, 3) Learning About Feelings, 4) Drawing Out Difficult Feelings, 5) Soothing Painful Memories, and 6) Growing Stronger. Each page gives a drawing prompt and affirmation; most pages are blank apart from a few words, to allow for maximum drawing space. The language used is direct and easy to understand without being oversimplified. 32 pages.

Resources: There is an “about this book” section, a page about how adult family members can help children, and additional readings for each chapter.

[Abby Peskin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a workbook for helping children when they're dealing with grief. It could be from a death, but could also probably be used after a trauma like abuse. Each page has a different art activity for the child to complete about their own processing of the bereavement experience. This includes different emotions they're experiencing, different ways to cope, etc. I would use this with many different ages of children to help them process.

[Jona (w/out an 'h') · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marge Eaton Heegaard is a gifted psychotherapist. Her work on helping children cope with grief issues is a contribution to all. If you know of a child who a terrible thing happened, share this book with the child.