What is How I Feel: Grief Journal for Kids about?
How I Feel: Grief Journal for Kids is a guided grief journal that helps children explore feelings after losing someone or something important. It uses writing, drawing, and simple activities to help kids process emotions and find comfort.
Who wrote How I Feel: Grief Journal for Kids?
The book is written by Mia Roldan, LCSW, LCDC. She is a licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and teacher with professional experience in grief and loss work.
How can this grief journal help a child?
This journal helps a child name feelings, reflect on changes after a loss, and practice calming and comforting activities. It is designed to give kids a private, safe place to express what they are feeling.
Does this book only focus on sadness, or does it cover other emotions too?
It covers more than sadness. The prompts also address anger, fear, worry, confidence, hope, relief, and feeling supported by other people.
What kinds of activities are in this kids grief journal?
The book includes guided prompts, drawing pages, reflection exercises, and hands-on activities. Examples include making a calming jar, creating a memory chain, building a worry box, tracing a Tree of Strength, and writing positive self-talk.
Is How I Feel: Grief Journal for Kids a workbook or a journal?
It is both a guided journal and a workbook-style activity book. Kids are asked to write, draw, reflect, and try simple coping exercises throughout the book.
How is the book organized?
The journal is divided into three parts: Explore Your Feelings, Create Comfort, and Find Peace. It also includes a resources section with grief support websites, articles, podcasts, and books.
Do kids have to complete this grief journal in order?
No, the book does not have to be used from beginning to end. The introduction says kids can skip around, write from any place, and go at their own pace.
Can a child write or draw in this book?
Yes, the journal is designed for both writing and drawing. The introduction says kids can write or draw as little or as much as they want.
Can kids use this grief journal on their own?
Some parts can be done independently, but a few activities call for adult help or family involvement. For example, the keepsake activity says to have an adult help with a trip to a craft store, and some exercises invite family participation.
Does the book include coping tools kids can use when they feel overwhelmed?
Yes, it includes practical coping exercises for difficult moments. These include breathing with bubbles, tearing up an anger page, making a calming jar, creating a worry box, and using positive self-talk.
Is this book only for grieving the death of a person?
No, the book is written for children who have lost someone or something special. The introduction and dedication both make room for different kinds of loss.
Will this book help a child remember the person or thing they lost?
Yes, several prompts focus on memory and connection. Kids are invited to make a memory chain, write what they wish they could say, and create a remembrance keepsake.
Does How I Feel: Grief Journal for Kids include outside grief resources?
Yes, the book ends with a resource section. It lists grief support organizations, articles, podcasts, and another book for children dealing with grief.
Is this a good fit for a child who has trouble talking about grief out loud?
Yes, it may be helpful for kids who are not ready to talk openly. The journal gives them a private space to express feelings through short prompts, drawing, and quiet activities.
If I want a gentle, activity-based grief workbook for a child, will this help?
Yes, this book is a gentle, guided option for children coping with loss. It combines emotional reflection with simple creative activities that help kids explore feelings, build comfort, and work toward peace.
