Therapeutic Activities for Missing Someone

Insect Exploration and Grief: A Journey of Change and Transformation

Grief can be difficult to understand, especially for younger children. These insect-themed activities offer a creative and gentle way for children to process their feelings about missing a loved one. By using the life cycle of insects and sensory play, the activities help children understand change, loss, and emotional expression in a way that’s fun, interactive, and therapeutic.

Activity: “The Life Cycle of an Insect”

Download the  Life Cycle of a Butterfly here.

1. Insect Exploration: The Life Cycle of an Insect

Activity: “The Life Cycle of an Insect”
Therapeutic Concept: Teach the child about the life cycle of an insect (like a butterfly or ladybug). This is a gentle way to discuss change and transformation, which are natural parts of life.
How It Helps: The activity teaches children that life moves through different stages, much like the life of an insect. By focusing on the stages of life—birth, growth, and change—it helps the child understand that although someone they love may no longer be with them physically, they are still part of life’s cycle.
Activity Steps:

• Create a paper butterfly or insect and decorate it with the child’s favorite colors or symbols.
• Attach the insect to a special place, like a wall or a shelf, symbolizing the loved one’s presence and transformation.

2. Insect Sensory Play: Insect Adventure

Activity: “Insect Sensory Bin” (or “Insect Adventure”)
Therapeutic Concept: Create a sensory bin filled with fake insects, dirt, leaves, and other natural textures.
How It Helps: Sensory activities help children engage with their emotions and soothe themselves, especially when they’re feeling anxious or upset. Talking about the insects’ feelings (“What do you think the ladybug feels? How does it feel in such a big world?”) helps children express their own feelings in a safe way.
Activity Steps:

• Fill a bin with sensory materials (dirt, leaves, fake insects).
• Encourage the child to explore and talk about the insects’ “feelings” and experiences.
• Introduce a simple story about the insect’s journey, relating it to the child’s own experiences with change or loss.

3. Insect-Based Storytelling: The Adventures of the Insect Family

Activity: “The Adventures of the Insect Family”
Therapeutic Concept: Create a story about an insect family (such as ladybugs or ants) going on an adventure or facing a challenge, like moving to a new home or dealing with a storm.
How It Helps: Storytelling allows children to relate to characters who face similar challenges, helping them identify and process their own feelings of loss. By seeing the insect family adapt to change, children learn that it’s okay to feel sad, but that change and growth are part of life.
Activity Steps:

• Create a simple story about the insect family and their challenges.
• Encourage the child to add their own ideas about how the story will unfold, giving them a sense of control and creativity.

4. Insect Art as Healing: Expressing Emotions Through Art

Activity: “Insect Prints or Art”
Therapeutic Concept: Create artwork using insect stamps or handprints to make images of insects like butterflies, ladybugs, or dragonflies.
How It Helps: Art and color allow children to express emotions they might not have words for. Through the act of creating, children can process their feelings and connect their emotions to the insect’s transformation or journey.
Activity Steps:

• Use stamps, handprints, or other materials to create insect art.
• Talk about the colors and patterns the child is choosing, and how each part of the insect (such as wings or legs) can represent a feeling or memory.

These activities provide children with a gentle and creative way to process the experience of missing someone, helping them understand change, loss, and the idea that memories live on in different ways. Through play, storytelling, and art, children can find comfort and healing while learning about the natural cycles of life.