Helping Kids Navigate Grief: A Discussion Guide & Activities for Saturdays with Gramps

Helping Kids Navigate Grief: A Discussion Guide & Activities for Saturdays with Gramps

When someone we love is no longer with us, the sadness can feel big—especially for children who may not yet have the tools to express or understand their grief.

I wrote Saturdays with Gramps to offer comfort, connection, and hope to children (and the grown-ups who support them) navigating loss. Through Sam’s story, readers learn that while someone may no longer be here physically, the love and memories we shared never leave us.

To help continue the conversation beyond the pages of the book, I’ve created a free classroom and caregiver Discussion Guide—along with a collection of meaningful, child-centered grief and memory activities.

🌼 What’s Inside the Saturdays with Gramps Discussion Guide?

You’ll find two age-appropriate versions of the guide:

• Grades K–3 (20–30 minutes)

• Grades 2–5 (30–40 minutes)

Each version includes:

• Thoughtful pre- and post-reading questions to encourage reflection on family, love, loss, and healing

• Gentle conversation starters that help normalize emotions and encourage empathy

• Creative extension activities like memory boxes, letters, and drawing exercises

• Helpful tips for teachers, caregivers, and counselors to support children with sensitivity and care

👉 Get the Saturdays with Gramps Discussion Guide

💜 Free Grief & Memory Activities for Kids

To support emotional exploration and healing in an engaging, age-appropriate way, I’ve also created a printable activity set that pairs beautifully with the book:

• Heart Map of Love & Memories
  A creative activity where children draw or write about people and moments that live in their hearts

• Special Memory Garden
  A place to “plant” important memories through drawing or writing, symbolizing how memories grow with love

• Memory Drawing Page
  A simple template for children to illustrate a meaningful moment shared with someone they love

• Grief & Loss Infographic (Kid-Friendly)
  A visual guide that helps children understand what grief is, how it can feel, and what can help

👉 Explore the Grief Activity Set

Why These Conversations Matter

I created these resources not just as an author, but as a parent who knows how hard it is to help your child through the heartbreak of loss. When we lost someone dear in our family, I searched for stories and tools to help my daughters navigate their emotions—and discovered how powerful stories and shared memories can be in the healing process.

My hope is that Saturdays with Gramps and these free resources offer a safe, loving way to talk about grief, hold onto memories, and remind kids that they are never alone in their feelings.

Thank you for helping the children in your life feel seen, supported, and surrounded by love.

Other Resources You May Find Helpful

• Create a Grief Comfort Kit
• Grief & Loss Affirmation Cards
• Color the Cardinal – Coloring Page for Kids
• Grief & Loss Kids’ Activities: Heart Map, Memory Garden & Memory Page
• Saturdays with Gramps – a gentle picture book about grief, loss & healing