The Sad Panda Collection

Young children experience grief in ways that can be quite different from adults. Their understanding of death evolves as they grow, often displaying confusion, curiosity, and occasional regressions in behavior. They might not grasp the permanence of loss and may express grief through play, asking repetitive questions, or exhibiting changes in behavior such as clinginess or withdrawal. Creating a safe space for them to express emotions, using age-appropriate language, and offering consistent support are crucial in helping them navigate through their grief. 

The Sad Panda Collection was designed to help adults guide young children through grief.

 8x8 softcover book includes:

• writing pages to record the growth process
• space for drawings & special pictures
• simple illustrations so struggling kids can project and process grief with or through Sad Panda
• honest language kids can understand
• meaningful questions to help partnering adults assess their grief

Sad Panda was written for children ages 2-8+. It centers on a simple character, Sad Panda, who is sad because someone he loves has died.

• Illustrations are intentionally sparse to provide plenty of white space for children to draw their own details, project their feelings onto Panda without any guilt or fear of how a parent or others might react, and guard against further feelings of isolation through details in pictures that may not reflect their life or experience.
• Simple prompts and lined writing pages are provided throughout to help a child process their own thoughts.
• The 3-fold purpose includes:
  • an opportunity for a child to connect Sad Panda's story to their own in a non-threatening way
  • a meaningful way to create memories for the child to be able to look back on over time and healing
  • a written record for a loving adult/therapist to refer to (whether the child is old enough to write or the adult writes for the child) as needed.

 8x8 softcover book includes:

• developmental stages of children as it influences their ability to process grief
• how grief shows up in young children
• how to provide meaningful support
• immediate and future risks of grief in early childhood
• early signs that more intervention is needed for future success

A Companion Guide to Sad Panda: For Parents and Other Bereavement Buddies is intended for adults.

• This “quick reference guide” explains the important role of a "Bereavement Buddy".
• It details appropriate language and critical ways to communicate along the way to allay fear and rebuild security for a child.
• It includes a plan for telling a child that a loved one has died, walks through a child's stages of development, discusses how grief may appear in each stage, and even reviews how deep loss affects a child's development.
• Lined pages and reflection prompts help a Bereavement Buddy to plan, prepare, and process their personalized navigation "plan" in a natural way.
• The 3-fold purpose includes:
  • confidence-building based on knowledge and preparation
  • a "culture" of assessing and adjusting without judgment to best meet the child's needs
  • support to ensure that a Bereavement Buddy maintains appropriate mental health to continue assisting well.

8.5 x 11 Full-Size Journal guides pre-teens and older grievers through the uncertain and often scary process of mourning.

• Pages are purposefully not dated to avoid any unhealthy compulsion to write or guilt for not writing
• Ample space is provided to write out thoughts, feelings, and questions.
• Special pages are provided to add pictures, drawings, and other special memories to help young grievers find ways to connect and bring their loved ones along without fear of "forgetting".
• Pages allow space to save memories and encouragements, write inspiring quotes from their loved one or others, and even record questions and address fears.
• Prompts are repeated cyclically throughout the journal to provide visual progress of growth as the user looks back on previous writings.
• "Contact" pages are included reinforce the importance of a support system and to conveniently keep track of it visually as it grows.