Grief Bridges

Suggested Groups: Middle/Teens

Purpose: To help group members identify their sources of support and coping skills

Task/need: Continued support, living on the grief spiral

Activity Setup Ideas:

Show a picture of a bridge & ask, "What do bridges do for us?" As the children give their responses, relate them to the concept of transporting over difficult terrain or something similar.
Draw the parallel with people that we rely on for support or things that we do to help us cope in difficult times. "Just like bridges, we need supports to help us get over rough times."

Materials:

Popsicle sticks (10-12 per person)
Poster board base (approximately 10"x 12")
Smaller poster board rectangles (approximately 8"x 4") to serve as the bridge structure.
Markers

Description:

Have group members identify approximately 10-15 supports upon which they rely. These can be people who comfort them through difficult times, places they go to feel safe and comforted or actions that they take to find comfort themselves.
- Have them write each one on a popsicle stick.
- "Imagine that you’re having a really tough day, you’re feeling sad about losing your family member, and other things just aren't going well at school or home. What do you do to feel better?"
- Ask, "Is there a person you like to talk to? An activity that you like to do or a place you like to go to feel comforted?"
Staple each end of the bridge support to the base to form an arch upon which the support sticks will be placed.
Glue each one of the support sticks to the bridge to symbolize the support that they need to 'cross' difficult times and situations.
Encourage the children to decorate their bridge as they wish.

Questions that you might ask:

Activity Wrap-Up Ideas:

Have the group share their support stories and look for groupings or commonalities across members