Memory Making Activities for Children Before and After a Death

For many children and teenagers, engaging in memory-making activities can be a meaningful way to express love, connection, and remembrance. These activities allow them to create lasting memories and share positive moments with their person while they are still here – and to honor and remember them after they have died. (Note: While these activities are designed with children in mind, many adults might also find them helpful in their own grief journey.)

Here are some memory-making activities that can be done before or after a death of a loved one:

Before a Death

Clay handprint/footprint 

• Mold air dry clay into a flat shape larger than their hand or foot.
• Gently press hand or foot into the clay to leave the full print.
• Leave out to air dry overnight or longer until completely hardened.
  How to Make a Clay Handprint Frame | Hobbycraft 

Ink fingerprint 

• Use an ink pad and paper.
• Press finger into pad and then press onto paper.
• These can be made into many things like wall art, a key chain, an ornament, etc. 

Finger paint flowers 

• Use finger paint and paper.
• Cover fingertip with paint.
• Press finger onto paper and then in a circle to make flower shapes.
• Use different colors and add stems to page.
  Flower Fingerprint Craft for Kids 

Make crafts/jewelry together

• Take time to create things together to have the physical reminder of a fun memory.

Memory stones  

• Paint/draw on rocks with your loved one and carry with you when you miss them.

After a Death

Make a quilt of their clothing/blankets  

• Piece together some of their favorite clothing and add the fabric into a quilt.
  A Stitch in Time: Creating Memorial Quilts for Those Who Grieve  

Put together a memory box 

• Fill a box with things that remind you of them like photos, trinkets, or drawings.
• Decorate the outside with things they liked or things that remind you of them.
• When you miss them, go through the box to remember them.
  How to Make a Custom Memorial Memory Box For a Loved One — Make Memento 

Create a scrapbook  

• Piece together photos and create collages of memories with them.
  Creating Memorial Albums After Loss  

Write them a letter 

• Think of what you would want to tell them if they were here or things that have happened that remind you of them.
• For younger children, this can also just be a photo of the person who died or of something that reminds them of that person.

Make an ornament 

• Create an ornament that represents or reminds you of them and hang it during holidays or times you want to have a reminder of them.
• This can be a good way to include them in holiday traditions and create new traditions to add remembrance of those who died.
  Remembering Ornament Craft

Plant something in their memory  

• This can be a tree, bush, flower or anything that reminds you of them.
• Plant it in a place like your yard or where you can go visit.

Bereavement bracelets 

• Make a bracelet of beads representing your emotions, experience, and remembrance of them.
• Create a map of what each bead means to you.
• Include beads that remind you of your loved one or even spell their name.
  Activity: Memory Beads - Eluna

Tips to keep in mind:

• While working on an activity with a child, it is important to make sure they are in a safe space to express themselves.
• Follow your child’s lead. Let them know that they can take breaks and that it’s okay if they do not want to complete the activity.
• Check in with your child or teenager, during and after the activity, to see how they are feeling or if there is anything they would like to share.

Memory-making doesn’t have to be creating a tangible item, it could also be spending quality time with them and participating in activities that you enjoy together. Hopefully, something on this list resonates with you and your child, offering comfort and connection as you navigate this journey of grief together.  

At Care Dimensions, we specialize in helping children mourn and cope with death – preparing them prior to the loss and supporting them after. Our children’s program provides emotional support to children, teenagers, and families. Learn more at CareDimensions.org/Children. You can also contact the children’s program team at 855-774-5100 or email [email protected].