In this episode, host Jerry Fenter welcomes Katie Ransdell, a certified child life specialist and founder of Grief Garden, for a thoughtful conversation about supporting children through grief.
Katie shares the personal and professional journey that led her to create Grief Garden, a space designed to help children process loss in developmentally appropriate and compassionate ways. Drawing from her expertise, she explains how children of different ages understand death and grief, and why their responses can look very different from those of adults.
A key part of Katie's work is play therapy, which allows children to express emotions they may not yet have the words for. She offers insight into the tools and techniques she uses, as well as how her virtual playroom extends support to children who cannot meet in person. This innovative approach creates safe, interactive opportunities for healing regardless of location.
Katie also provides practical guidance for adults—parents, caregivers, chaplains, and professionals—on how to better support grieving children. She highlights the importance of recognizing that children grieve differently than adults and recommends a helpful video from Child Bereavement UK that illustrates these differences. Films, books and resources | Child Bereavement UK
The conversation also explores often-overlooked grief experiences, such as when a child is mourning someone outside their immediate family, like a friend or neighbor. Katie emphasizes the importance of validating these losses and not minimizing their impact.
One powerful takeaway is Katie's perspective on how children struggle with emotional regulation when confronted with hurtful comments. She challenges the common expectation that the grieving child should be the one to forgive, encouraging adults instead to model accountability and advocate for appropriate apologies.
This episode offers valuable insight and practical tools for anyone walking alongside children in grief.
Learn more about Katie's work at griefgarden.com.
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