Resources

From Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan Grief Counselor Cate Jarvis

“Glitter bottles are not a new idea. They are very popular on Pinterest as a toy or a time-out tool. But I want to share a few ideas for ways to use it for centering, and identifying feelings with grieving kids and teens.”

Supplies

• Clear plastic bottle with a good fitting lid. Pop or water bottles work well.
• Clear glue
• Glitter-large, medium or fine, or a combination!
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors
• Paper plate
• Paper towel
• Warm water

Start with filling the bottle ½ to ¾ full warm water.

Add clear glue- a couple of good, long squeezes – or have the kids count to 10 while you or they are pouring the glue.

Add the glitter – about 1-2 tablespoons worth. Fine glitter will sink slowing and larger more quickly.  Encourage kids to keep the colors in the same color family for the best results.  If they pick pink and dark purple, the dark purple will overpower the pink.

Once they have the color combination they like, carefully pour the glitter into the bottle, put the lid on and shake up the bottle.  If they want more glitter or want the glitter to sink more slowly you, add more glue and glitter to get the right consistency. Once they like it the way it is, fill the bottle up with warm water until completely full. Dry the inside of the lid and outside rim of the bottle thoroughly. Make sure the lid is also thoroughly dry, then hot glue the lid to bottle.

A child or teen can hold their glitter bottle, shake it up, and as the glitter slowly settles, talk about one of these opened-ended questions:

• What do you notice about the glitter bottle?
• How does your body feel when you are watching the glitter?
• How many breathes can we do until the glitter all settles?
• Tell us about the colors you chose for your bottle?
• What feelings feel heavy like the larger glitter?
• When have you felt that feeling before?
• What feelings feel like the smaller glitter?
• When have you felt that feeling before?

I also recommend this book about your body and feelings: Listening to your Body by Gabi Garcia

Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan Grief Counselor Cate Jarvis shares an activity based on the book “The Invisible String” that can serve as a beautiful reminder that we are connected to our loved ones through “invisible strings.”

I start this activity by reading the book The Invisible String by Patrice Karst.

I like this book because it’s short and to the point, and keeps kids and teens — yes teens — interested. I also like that it addresses the feeling of missing a loved one by reframing it as we are still connected to each other by love — the invisible string.

After we read the book, we talk about the ways we are connected to our loved ones, through stories, memories, objects, songs, and events.

Supplies you will need to create the ornament:

• Markers-fine tip permanent markers work the best for writing on paper.  Metallic permanent markers work best for writing on the outside of the ornament.
• Clear plastic fillable ornaments
• Papers cardstock of various colors. Kids like to choose their favorite shades of pink, red and white.
• Heart shaped paper punch
• Some kind of filler — I used fake snow, which was very messy but the kids like it.
• String or ribbon to tie on to the ornament.
• Fine tinsel or sting for the “string”
• Scissors
• Hole punch

A few simple instructions:

Kids can choose to write the person’s name on the heart, a message or leave it blank before they place it inside the ornament. They can also put more than one heart in the ornament if they choose. Don’t forget to punch a hole in the heart for the invisible string to tie to. Sometimes they want to decorate the outside of the ornament which is ok too! Then get out of the way and watch the kids create their ornament.

Although I have done this activity at Christmas time — ornaments are more readily available in craft stores — it’s not just a once a year activity. Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, these are all times in which kid and teens miss their loved ones and need to feel connected to them. The ornament is also something that can hang in a window all year long.