Helping Kids Navigate Grief: Create a “Grief Comfort Kit” Together

Create a “Grief Comfort Kit”

Grief is big and messy, and for kids, it can feel especially confusing. After experiencing the loss of someone they love, children often don’t have the words to express what they’re feeling. That’s why I believe so strongly in creating simple, gentle tools that help them process those emotions in a safe and creative way.

One of my favorite tools? The Grief Comfort Kit—a simple printable activity designed to help kids identify the people, items, and coping strategies that bring them comfort when they’re feeling sad, lonely, or overwhelmed.

What is a Grief Comfort Kit?

Think of it like an emotional backpack: a place where kids can imagine “packing” things that help them feel supported and soothed.

This printable activity (which you can grab here or below) features a visual of a backpack and invites children to draw or write 5–6 comforting things they can turn to when grief feels especially heavy. These might be:

• A hug from a loved one

• A favorite stuffed animal

• Talking to a parent, teacher, or friend

• Looking at pictures of the person they miss

• Dancing

• Listening to music

• Drawing

• Spending time in nature

• Playing with a pet

Every child is different, and what comforts one might not work for another; that’s the beauty of this activity: it’s uniquely theirs.

Why It Helps

Activities like this give children a sense of agency. They can’t control the loss, but they can create a toolbox of emotional supports. The visual of a backpack also makes the concept tangible: “These are the things I carry with me to feel okay.”

This activity was inspired by my upcoming picture book, Saturdays with Gramps, which gently explores grief, the grandparent-grandchild bond, and healing after loss. In the story, Sam learns that love doesn’t die even when someone we cherish does. The Grief Comfort Kit builds on that message: Love and support are always within reach, even when someone is no longer physically with us.

Want to Try It?

Click below to download your free printable:
👉 Download the Grief Comfort Kit Printable Backpack

Use it at home, in therapy, at school, or during storytime. It’s a beautiful, low-pressure way to invite kids into a conversation about what helps them feel safe, loved, and supported.

Remember, you are not alone. Whether you’re a parent, educator, therapist, or caregiver walking alongside a grieving child, I hope this little backpack of comfort can be one more tool in your care toolkit.

Hugs!

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Other Resources You Might Find Helpful

• 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, and healing