top of page

Trauma-Informed Storytelling

SEL & Grief Literacy Resources

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.

Stories/ Resource Link

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.

Stories/ Resource Link

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.

Certified Child Life Specialist
Early Childhood Educator
Degree in Children’s Studies and Advocacy
Master’s in Education
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:

Education: Master of Arts in Art Therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

(2011).
Undergraduate education: Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Illinois University (2008), with a major in Art and minor in Psychology.
Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Registered Art Therapist (ATR).

March Break 2019- Nature Connection Programs in McDonald's Corners/ Lanark Highlands

Laurie Lynn Clark

Feb 14, 2019

1 min read

Nature Connection programs in McDonald's Corners. Visit: Laurielynnclark.com

MARCH BREAK NATURE CONNECTION PROGRAMS in McDONALD'S CORNERS

March Break 2019

Nature Connection Youth Program

March 11-15th, 2019

Acorns: Ages 3-6 (Space for 5 children).

Monday/ Tuesday /Wednesday

9: 00 am until 3:30 pm

Coyotes: Mixed Ages (Space for 8 children):

Thursday and Friday. 9: 00 am until 3:30 pm

Bring a lunch, 2 garbage free snacks, water, extra warm/dry clothes.

Please contact Laurie to pre-register.

laurieclark777@gmail.com

“As awareness grows, appreciation grows too. As appreciation grows, so does empathy.”- - Jon Young, What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World

bottom of page

Testimonials

Professional Review of Growing Memories

by Dianne McKissock OAM

Co-founder and Patron

Bereavement CARE Centre

National Centre for Childhood Grief, Australia

About- Dianne McKissock OAM

​

March Break 2019

Nature Connection Youth Program

March 11-15th, 2019