Be a Champion of Hope
Every November, Children’s Grief Awareness Day reminds us that many children face the holidays carrying invisible grief. Whether they’ve lost a parent, grandparent, sibling, or friend, their world can feel unfamiliar—especially when everyone around them seems to be celebrating.
This year’s theme, Champions of Hope, honors the everyday heroes who help grieving children feel seen, supported, and loved. You don’t need special training to be a Champion of Hope. You just need presence, patience, and a listening heart.
Here are a few ways anyone can help:
1. Listen more than you speak.
Children often express grief through play, art, or small comments. You don’t need perfect words—just attention. Silence can be healing when it feels safe.
2. Acknowledge the loss.
Simple statements like “I miss them too” or “I know holidays can feel hard” validate what a child feels without trying to fix it.
3. Keep their loved one’s memory alive.
Invite children to share stories, look at photos, or light a candle in remembrance. Small rituals give shape to feelings that are hard to name.
4. Offer stability and routine.
Grief can make life feel unpredictable. Familiar routines—shared meals, story-time, walks—restore a sense of safety.
5. Share hopeful stories and resources.
Books can be bridges to understanding. You might also watch this particularly powerful moment:
📺 LeVar Burton — Celebrity Guest, Author of The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm — recorded a presentation for the 2020 virtual Children’s Grief Awareness Day event. You can view it here: LeVar Burton: Book Reading & Discussion for CGAD 2020 YouTube+1
Every kind word, every shared story, every moment of presence plants a seed of hope.
🦋 This November, let’s all be Champions of Hope.
Learn more and find free resources at Highmark Caring Place