Self-care and mindfulness activities can be incredibly beneficial. These activities provide children with tools to cope with their emotions and develop resilience during this challenging time. One self-care activity that can be practised is journaling. Encourage children to write down their feelings, memories, and thoughts. This can help them process their emotions and provide a sense of comfort in expressing themselves. This physical reminder can be comforting and allow them to cherish and honour the memories.

In addition, mindfulness activities can help children and adolescents ground themselves and find peace during times of grief. Breathing exercises can be incredibly beneficial, as they help calm the mind and body. Encourage children to take deep breaths and focus on their breath going in and out. They can also try guided imagery, where they imagine a peaceful and comforting place or memory. This visualization can help them feel a sense of tranquillity and provide a temporary escape from their grief. Another mindfulness activity that can be practised is body scan meditation, where children focus their attention on different parts of their body, noticing any sensations or tension. This helps them become more aware of their physical sensations and promotes relaxation.

It is important to remember that self-care and mindfulness activities may not immediately alleviate grief, but they can provide children and adolescents with valuable coping strategies over time. Encourage them to incorporate these activities into their daily routine and remind them that it is okay to feel sad, angry, or confused. Let them know that grief is a natural process, and self-care and mindfulness can support them on their journey towards healing. By fostering a space for self-expression and reflection, these activities can help children navigate their grief in a creative and meaningful way.

Lesson Summary

Self-care and mindfulness activities are highly beneficial for children and adolescents during challenging times, providing them with tools to cope with emotions and develop resilience. Some examples include:

• Journaling: Writing down feelings, memories, and thoughts to process emotions and find comfort in self-expression.
• Breathing exercises: Deep breaths and focusing on the breath going in and out to calm the mind and body.
• Guided imagery: Imagining a peaceful place or memory to find tranquillity and temporary escape from grief.
• Body scan meditation: Focusing on different parts of the body, noticing sensations, and promoting relaxation.

It is important to note that self-care and mindfulness activities may not immediately alleviate grief, but they can serve as valuable coping strategies over time. Encouraging their incorporation into daily routines and embracing the natural process of grief can support children on their healing journey.