Heart-to-Heart with Kids

Heart-to-Heart with Kids is a support group at Mid-Pacific Institute for children ages three to eleven. Those who are grieving a loss are invited to participate.

There are many experiences that occur in a young child's life -- some are joyful, while others are painful. The memories and feelings from these experiences leave impressions in one's inner consciousness, often lasting a lifetime, affecting all areas of development and all levels of being -- physical, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual. Children bring the totality of these experiences with them to school. These impressions are capable of enhancing or blocking learning, but more deeply affect and influence how life is experienced.

Young children experience various kinds of losses in their lives. While death of a caregiver or someone close to a child is the deepest wound to a young heart, other losses that bring grief, such as separation and divorce, also affect young children in many ways.

The experience that one has due to a loss is called grief, an internal anguish that encompasses a broad range of feelings and behaviors. This distress can manifest itself in many ways, including anxiety, anger, sorrow, depression, sadness, fear, guilt, and relief.

Cynthia White, director of Kids Hurt Too, a non-profit organization that provides support for children and families who are experiencing loss and grief, states that young children need opportunities for releasing grief in safe ways, consistent compassionate redirection of their energy into safe outlets, an environment that favors learning through active participation, and recognition that their behavior is the expression of grief.

Heart-to-Heart with Kids meets on the second and third Tuesdays of each month from 2:30 to 3:15 pm at the CE House of MPI.

There is no fee for children of MPI to attend. Parents are encouraged to help provide healthy snacks and drinks for each group session.

Activities to help express the energy of grief and provide compassionate support in a safe and caring environment include art, music, games, puppets, and gardening.

To register, please call:
Shirley Rivera
Mid-Pacific Institute's Character Education and Counseling Office at 441-3839
email: srivera@midpac.edu

Posted on September 18, 2008 2:01 PM | Permalink