Tips for Teens Who Are Grieving is a compassionate and relatable guide created specifically for teenagers navigating the death of someone important to them—whether a parent, sibling, friend, or other loved one. Written in a down-to-earth, understanding tone, this free printable grief support guide provides teens with validation, honest advice, and practical coping strategies grounded in real experiences from other grieving young people.
This resource comes from The Dougy Center, a respected grief support organisation, and speaks directly to the realities of teen grief—such as feeling numb, frustrated, isolated, confused, or guilty. It reassures teens that there is no “right way” to grieve and encourages them to trust their own pace while finding tools that work for them.
What this guide covers:
The unpredictable and personal nature of grief (“there’s no recipe”)
Common emotional and physical responses, such as changes in sleep, memory, appetite, or mood
Guilt, regret and “what if” thoughts—and how to acknowledge and work through them
The challenges of talking about grief with friends, family and others
Helpful ways to express feelings through writing, art, movement or quiet reflection
Reassurance about laughing, feeling joy, or taking breaks from grief without guilt
Includes a special section: 10 Things to Try When the Grief Tide Rolls In, such as:
Breathing exercises
Talking to someone who listens
Journaling and creative expression
Asking for help
Celebrating small moments of joy
There is also clear advice on what to do if grief feels too heavy, including how to contact youth crisis lines, mental health professionals or trusted adults.
This grief resource is ideal for:
Teenagers coping with the death of a loved one
School counsellors, therapists and pastoral care staff
Social workers and early help practitioners supporting bereaved teens
Foster carers and families offering emotional support at home
Youth groups and peer support programmes
Tips for Teens Who Are Grieving helps young people feel seen, understood, and supported. It offers gentle, practical encouragement for working through grief in their own way, without pressure or judgement.
The poster uses child-friendly language and simple icons to help children name what they are feeling (e.g. worried, shy, confused, angry, excited, proud) and match those feelings with helpful responses. It empowers children to take ownership of their emotions and choose a calming strategy that works for them.
Calming strategies on the poster include:
Taking deep breaths
Using positive self-talk
Creating art or building something
Talking or writing about feelings
Doing yoga or stretching
Taking a break or getting a drink of water
Asking for help
Treating themselves and others with kindness
Brainstorming solutions and trying again
Focusing on the good
Exercising or moving their body
Ideal for use in:
Classrooms and calm-down corners
School counselling and emotional literacy lessons
Nurture groups and behaviour support work
Therapy rooms and social work settings
Home environments to encourage positive emotional habits
This poster is especially useful for children who benefit from visual reminders and structure when learning how to regulate their emotions. It promotes independence, choice, and a strength-based approach to managing emotional challenges.
Print it out and display it in places where children need encouragement to pause, breathe, and choose a helpful way to cope.
