Love Activities

Experiencing feelings of love can be complicated after a death loss. Use these activities to help you find love in yourself, in others, and in your day-to-day life.

favorite Life Story – Family Activity

Child Instructions:

It can be helpful to think not just about the story of how your special person died, but also of other stories that make up who you are, too. Think of a favorite story that you love remembering or telling people. Use the provided prompts if you would like support. Spend five minutes telling your story to your family members then reflect:

• How did it feel to tell that story?
• Who do you feel comfortable telling that story to?
• Are you comfortable sharing the story of your grief with the same people?

Adult/Teen Instructions:

Think of a favorite story of yours to tell. Take five minutes to share it with your family members and discuss why you love sharing that story. Consider: how did it make you feel to share that? Who would you feel comfortable telling that story to? Reflect for a moment on how it feels to tell the story of your grief and who you are comfortable telling it to.

If you could look into the future, how might your grief journey affect a future story or something you want to achieve in your lifetime?

A letter to myself – Youth Activity Ages 11 – 18

Sometimes finding love for ourselves in the present is easier if we extend it to the past versions of ourselves. Think back to what your grief looked like right after the death and write a letter to yourself using the following prompts:

• What would you want the “old you” to know?
• Is there any advice or words of encouragement you would want to send yourself at that time?
• What would you want to warn yourself about?
• How would you try to prepare yourself for the journey you were about to begin?

Heart Felt People – YOuth Activity Ages 3 – 10

We know it is important to have loving people in our lives that we can go to for support when we need it. Above each figure on the provided worksheet, write the names of the people you care about.

• Draw a blue heart on the people who were once in your heart but no longer are.
• Draw a yellow heart on the people you can talk to about your special person.
• Draw a pink heart on the people you can go to when you need a hug.
• Draw a red heart on the people you can go to when you feel sad.
• Draw a green heart on the people you can go to when you want to play.
• Draw an orange heart on the people you can to go when you feel hurt.

Story Corner

“Love” by Matt de la Peña. In this heartfelt celebration of love, Matt de la Peña and illustrator Loren Long depict the many ways we experience this universal bond, which carries us from the day we are born throughout the years of our childhood and beyond. With a lyrical text that’s soothing and inspiring, this tender tale is a needed comfort and a new classic that will resonate with readers of every age.