Trauma-Informed Storytelling & Grief Literacy Programs
Through storytelling, original music, nature soundscapes and creative reflection,
Laurel O'Cleary offers stories to
help children and caring adults explore meaningful conversations
about emotions, loss, relationships and belonging.
Explore the storytelling topics:
Growing Memories - Bereavement Awareness & Childhood Grief Literacy
The Hurt Behind Throwing Stones - SEL Resource - Bullying, Empathy & Restorative Communication
The Eagle and Crow Poem- SEL Resource - Bullying, Emotional Literacy, Connection & Resilience
The Remarkable Life of Bees - Nature Connection Story and Song
Testimonials
Professional Reviews for Bereavement Awareness Resource
Growing Memories:
A Musical Audio Circle Story of Love, Loss, and Resilience
Professional Review of Growing Memories
by Dianne McKissock OAM
Co-founder and Patron
Bereavement CARE Centre
National Centre for Childhood Grief, Australia
“Your program is beautifully and thoughtfully produced, well researched, clear and appropriately simple.
I agree with comments made by other reviewers and people who have used GROWING MEMORIES - it is gentle, safe and heartwarming and I can imagine it being an invaluable resource for many schools, therapists and families. ”
About- Dianne McKissock OAM
Dianne McKissock OAM is a highly experienced Australian bereavement counsellor with 55 years of professional counselling experience, including 45 years specialising in bereavement. For four decades, she and her husband have facilitated support groups for bereaved children and young people.
Through her longstanding work with bereaved people of all ages, Dianne has contributed to supporting children, young people and families as they navigate grief and loss. Her approach recognises the importance of creating safe, trusting environments that respond to children's individual needs and experiences.
Professional Reviews for Bereavement Awareness Resource
Growing Memories:
Reviewed by:
Ami Armagost, MSW, RSW
Toronto, Ontario
"It was a pleasure experiencing the first chapter of Growing Memories. The story and language is simple yet thoughtful. The illustrations, music and sounds add a gentle tone while activating the imagination and enhancing engagement. The story is touching and beautifully put together.
This digital storybook provides adults with a practical framework for supporting children in understanding death and emotional responses to loss. The use of story, illustration, and music, connected to the world around them, creates a meaningful and engaging learning experience. There is an overall sense of calmness consistent throughout the chapter. The child-appropriate and thoughtful prompts encourage emotional expression, reflection, and learning. This is a gentle, compassionate, and valuable resource for adults supporting children.
Thank you for sharing your work, and for all the effort you put into creating a resource for children and the adults supporting them."
Ami Armagost, MSW, RSW
Grief Therapist/ Toronto
AWC Grief Support
ami@awcgrief.com
www.awcgrief.com
Ami Armagost is a Registered Social Worker and grief therapist with AWC Grief Support, specialising in supporting children, youth and families navigating grief and loss. Her practice draws on advanced training in child development, trauma-informed care and grief support, with an emphasis on compassionate, playful and developmentally sensitive approaches.
Professional Reviews for
Bereavement Awareness Resource
Growing Memories:
by:
Ally de Ruiter
The Nightingale Centre
Waterloo, Ontario
"Thank you for sharing this wonderful resource with me. I really appreciated the thoughtful flow of this resource. The lessons build naturally on one another, and the content feels very relevant and meaningful for children who are grieving. I especially valued how it incorporates learning from both students and educators. The inclusion of grief literacy and bullying also really resonated with me, as these are areas we encounter often in our work. I’m looking forward to exploring this resource more deeply over time and seeing how it can continue to support children and educators."
About Ally de Ruiter
The Nightingale Centre
Ally de Ruiter is the Grow in Grief (GiG) Family Counsellor at The Nightingale Centre in Guelph, Ontario. She has more than 10 years of experience in grief and bereavement, working with children, youth, caregivers, and professionals in homes, schools, and community settings.
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Certified Child Life Specialist
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Early Childhood Educator
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Degree in Children’s Studies and Advocacy
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Master’s in Education
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Professor in the Early Childhood Education program at Conestoga College
Professional Development & Academic Recognition
Selected Presenter – 2027
International Death, Grief & Bereavement Conference
University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA
Growing Memories has been selected for a presentation at the 2027 International Death, Grief & Bereavement Conference, hosted by the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.
This selection provides an opportunity to share the resource with an international audience of professionals, researchers, educators and practitioners working in death, grief and bereavement.
Professional Review for
Bereavement Awareness Resource
Growing Memories:
By Anonymous Program Director/ Hospice
Art Therapist - MA, LPC, ATR
Chicago, Illinois, USA
I reviewed Chapter 1 and what I can share is that it shares the same philosophy with WH.
I appreciated seeing how you are normalizing grief, don't pathologize it, welcome all feelings, encourage active listening, and multiple modalities to support children. I also appreciated seeing how you coach the adults that not all children will have their own memories of their person who died. I think the story of the crown of daisies is warm, approachable, simple, yet powerful. Again thank you for putting this into the world to support children who are grieving.
Profile Anonymous.
Professional background:
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Education: Master of Arts in Art Therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
(2011).
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Undergraduate education: Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Illinois University (2008), with a major in Art and minor in Psychology.
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Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Registered Art Therapist (ATR).
References & Resources
Research, References & Professional Learning
This page is intended as a developing collection of research, professional learning and educational resources relevant to childhood grief literacy and bereavement-informed practice.
The inclusion of an organization or publication does not imply that it has reviewed, endorsed, approved or formally partnered with Growing Memories.
1. Research & Academic Literature
Research on childhood bereavement, grief literacy, trauma-informed education and the preparation of adults to support grieving children provides important context for this work.
Selected Research
Research & Resources
NACG:
National Alliance for Children’s Grief
Refer to the guide with the National Alliance for Children’s Grief and the Coalition to Support Grieving Students about Best-Practices for School-Based Support Groups for Bereaved Students.
This NACG Guide walks professionals through how they can form and logistically facilitate these groups, in addition to some theoretical and practical foundations for these kinds of groups.
1. Peer-Reviewed Research & Professional Literature.
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“Ask us anything”: A framework for understanding bereaved children’s questions about illness, dying, and grief.
Eaton Russell C, Bailey L, Pugazhendhi A, Sutton K, Twiner Ross S, Humphreys J. (2026). Palliative Care and Social Practice, 20, 1–13.
Article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/26323524261460926
Free full text: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13346823/ -
Digital death education to promote pre-service teachers’ grief literacy regarding childhood bereavement: A qualitative case study.
Frei-Landau R, Schonfeld DJ. (2026). Death Studies, 50(6), 940–956.
Article: https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2025.2468175 -
The epidemiology of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder in a representative cohort of young people in England and Wales.
Lewis SJ, et al. (2019). The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(3), 247–256.
Article: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30031-8
Free full text: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6384243/ -
Re-Imagining Childhood Grief: Children as Active Agents in a Transactional Process.
Eaton Russell C, Chin M, Bollig G, et al. (2024). OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying.
Article: https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228241310264
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39688324/ -
The Dual Process Model of Coping with Bereavement: Rationale and Description.
Stroebe M, Schut H. (1999). Death Studies, 23(3), 197–224.
Article: https://doi.org/10.1080/074811899201046 -
Supporting Youth Grieving the Dying or Death of a Sibling or Parent: Considerations for Parents, Professionals, and Communities.
Warnick AL. (2015). Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care, 9(1), 58–63.
Article: https://doi.org/10.1097/SPC.0000000000000115 -
Position Statement: Grief and Grief Literacy.
Wright D, Cadell S, Letourneau D, et al. (2024). Canadian Palliative Care Nursing Association.
2. UK Trauma Council: Traumatic Bereavement
UK Trauma Council: Main Resources
https://uktraumacouncil.org/resources/traumatic-bereavement
Traumatic Bereavement for School and College Communities
https://uktraumacouncil.org/resources/traumatic-bereavement-for-school-communities
Traumatic Bereavement: School and College Support Plan
https://uktraumacouncil.org/resource/traumatic-bereavement-support-plan
Traumatic Bereavement Clinical Guide for Practitioners
https://uktraumacouncil.org/resource/traumatic-bereavement-clinical-guide
Supporting Traumatically Bereaved Children and Young People
https://uktraumacouncil.org/resource/supporting-traumatically-bereaved-cyp
How to Identify Traumatic Bereavement
https://uktraumacouncil.org/resource/how-to-identify-traumatic-bereavement
Traumatic Bereavement Resources for Professionals — Child Bereavement UK
https://www.childbereavementuk.org/traumatic-bereavement-resources-for-professionals
3. Child and Youth Assessment Measures
Child Revised Impact of Events SCREENING Scale (CRIES-8)
https://www.corc.uk.net/outcome-experience-measures/child-revised-impact-of-events-scale-cries/
CRIES-8 Questionnaire PDF
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/65282a244219d4570477dc6b/t/654d21b439eff7775be15ad3/1699553716698/English-CRIES-8.pdf
Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS)
https://www.corc.uk.net/outcome-experience-measures/revised-childrens-anxiety-and-depression-scale-rcads/
4. School Wellbeing Resources
School Wellbeing Cards
https://www.schoolwellbeingcards.co.uk/
Bear Us in Mind
https://www.bearusinmind.org.uk/
5. Child Bereavement Resources
Puddle Jumping Animation — Child Bereavement UK
https://www.childbereavementuk.org/puddle-jumping
Do Children and Young People Grieve Differently? — Winston’s Wish
https://winstonswish.org/do-children-and-young-people-grieve-differently/
KidsGrief.ca: Talking with Kids and Teens About Serious Illness, Dying and Death
https://kidsgrief.ca/
Talking to Kids About Serious Illness: The 6 C’s and 3 W’s — SickKids
https://www.sickkids.ca/siteassets/care-services/support-services/paediatric-advanced-care-team-pact/talking-to-kids-about-serious-illness.pdf
6. Canadian and International Bereavement Organizations
AWC Grief Support
https://awcgrief.com/
Canadian Virtual Hospice
https://www.virtualhospice.ca/
Canadian Child Care Federation
https://cccf-fcsge.ca/
Hospice Palliative Care Ontario
https://www.hpco.ca/
Bereaved Families of Ontario
https://bereavedfamilies.net/
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
https://www.chpca.ca/
The Dougy Center
https://www.dougy.org/
Child Bereavement UK
https://www.childbereavementuk.org/
UK Trauma Council
https://uktraumacouncil.org/
7. AWC Grief Support. Canada
https://awcgrief.com/
Ami Armagost, MSW, RSW, provided professional feedback (not an endorsement) on Chapter One of Growing Memories, with permission, her comment may be shared:
“gentle, compassionate, and valuable resource for adults supporting children.”
This represents feedback from an individual professional and does not imply formal organizational endorsement.
Research and Resource Note
These publications and resources provide background literature, professional guidance and supplementary information relevant to childhood grief, bereavement, trauma and grief literacy.
Inclusion does not imply that the authors or organizations have reviewed, endorsed or formally evaluated Growing Memories.
2. Professional Learning & Guidance
AWC Grief Support: A Canadian grief support practice providing services, education and resources for children, youth, families and professionals. Grief therapy, education and consultation. awcgrief.com
UK Trauma Council
The UK Trauma Council provides professional resources and guidance concerning childhood trauma and traumatic bereavement.
Professional learning. Traumatic Bereavement Course: Supporting children and young person in school or college
Explore: https://uktraumacouncil.org/
Child Bereavement UK
CBUK provides bereavement education, family resources and professional guidance for adults supporting bereaved children and young people.
Professional learning recorded by the author includes:
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Supporting Bereaved Pupils & Managing Bereavement in Schools
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Child & Family Bereavement Certification (2025)
Explore: https://www.childbereavementuk.org/
Canadian Virtual Hospice
Canadian Virtual Hospice provides online information and learning resources relating to serious illness, grief, palliative care and bereavement.
Related resources include:
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KidsGrief.ca: Information and learning resources for adults supporting grieving children.
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MyGrief.ca: Online grief education and support.
Explore: https://www.virtualhospice.ca/
KidsGrief.ca: https://kidsgrief.ca/
MyGrief.ca: https://mygrief.ca/
Canadian Child Care Federation
Professional learning recorded by the author includes Supporting Grief and Young Children, associated with the Canadian Child Care Federation, Canadian Virtual Hospice and KidsGrief.ca.
Explore: https://www.cccf-fcsge.ca/
3. Canadian Bereavement & Palliative Care Resources
The following organizations offer additional perspectives and resources relevant to childhood bereavement, family support, grief education and community care.
Hospice Palliative Care Ontario
Professional education and resources relating to hospice, palliative care and bereavement.
https://www.hpco.ca/
Bereaved Families of Ontario
Community-based bereavement support, education and resources for grieving individuals and families.
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
National resources, education and advocacy relating to hospice and palliative care.
Canadian Alliance for Grieving Children and Youth
An organization focused on awareness, collaboration and support relating to childhood bereavement.
4. Additional Childhood Bereavement International Resources
The Dougy Center. USA
Resources and information for grieving children, teens and their families.
https://www.dougy.org/
Child Bereavement UK
Guidance for families, schools and professionals supporting bereaved children.
https://www.childbereavementuk.org/
UK Trauma Council
Guidance for understanding and responding to childhood trauma and traumatic bereavement.
https://uktraumacouncil.org/
KidsGrief.ca. Canada
Canadian online grief education for parents, caregivers and other adults supporting children.
https://kidsgrief.ca/
About This Reference Collection
This page is intended as a developing collection of research, professional learning and educational resources relevant to childhood grief literacy and bereavement-informed practice.
Again, the inclusion of an organization or publication does not imply that it has reviewed, endorsed, approved or formally partnered with Growing Memories.