Western cultures tend to be “death-denying and grief-avoiding” (Terra McDaniel). Walking with children and families through grief, loss, and death can be a challenging and important opportunity. The books, resources, and links on this page have been curated for church leaders and caregivers (parents, grandparents, guardians, etc.). If you have additional questions or have resources that would be helpful to add, please contact Kathy Pittenger.
Grief Support for Children and Families in Michigan
- Ele’s Place (Lansing, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Flint)
- Gabby’s Grief Center (Monroe)
- Children’s Grief Center (Midland)
- Gilda’s Club (Grand Rapids)
- Centrica Journeys: Support for Grieving Children (Southwest Michigan)
- Lory’s Place (St. Joseph)
- Michael’s Place (Traverse City)
- Sandcastles (Metro Detroit)
- Additional locations may be found at Children Grieve
Resources for Helping Children with Grief, Loss, and Death
- National Alliance for Children’s Grief
- The Dougy Center (National)
- Helping Kids Grieve from Sesame Street in Communities
- When Someone Your Child Loves Dies: A Guide from the Fred Rogers Center
- Daniel Tiger Video “Blue Fish is Dead“
Resources from a Faith Perspective
Helping Children Grieve Zoom recording with guest speaker Terra McDaniel and slides
Recommended Children’s Books
The books below have been recommended by children’s ministry directors and professionals. For a downloadable list, click here.
