[.ca] Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope ... (ISBN 1577490851)

My 6 and 8 year old thrived on the art therapy approach--Dee:
What a beautiful book. My 2 girls are watching their father slowly die of ALS--Lou Gehrig's disease. It is a painfully slow and tortious death in that he has slowly lost the use of his legs, arms and can no longer speak or eat by mouth. I used this book to help get them through this process. The art therapy approach honestly helped my 6 year old explain things she could not verbalize and the 8 year old enjoyed it for a type of relaxation. Thank you

A wonderful keepsake:
My 5 yr old son was having a hard time coping with losing his mother to cancer. A friend recommended this book, and I thought it was abosultely wonderful. My son, who couldn't or wouldn't open up about his feelings, took to this book like he would a favorite coloring book, letting all his feeling and perceptions just flow out right there on paper. I bought it to help HIM, but it helped ME just as much--I wept when I looked at what he had drawn. After he finished it, he forgot about the book for a while. So I took it and put it in our hope chest for him to look back on years from now, as a keepsake and memory of the wonderful woman who brought him into this world, and who brought us both so much happiness.

Has some good ideas...:
I bought this book to help my children with the approaching death of their Grandma. I liked it for the most part, but there could have been more activities to help with the trasition from a "sick" loved one to one that has already passed away.

Exceptional:
This is an exceptional book to use with children to help them to process their grief of a loved one. The books encourages children to write and or draw pictures about the one who is dying or has died.In addition the book provides useful suggestions for children when grieving the loss of a loved one. I believe every elementary school counselor should have several copies for their work with students who are processing loss. It's also a very good gift idea for kids who you know are grieving.

5 Stars:
Art therapy is a wonderful way to let children release their emotions. Good ideas, great presentation. I highly recommend this book. We also used a video, After the Tears, A Gentle Guide to Help Children Understand Death.