According to Child Bereavement UK, 1 in 29 children is bereaved of a parent or sibling and 92% will experience a significant bereavement before the age of 16.
Developed by Child Bereavement UK, ‘Elephant’s Tea Party’ is a new annual event to help teachers give children the emotional literacy and life skills needed to equip them for bereavement, now or in later life.
By using creative exercises, lesson plans and fun activities, the aim of the campaign is to give school staff the resources to help pupils explore the subject of bereavement in an age-appropriate, straightforward and accessible way. There is also the option to hold a tea party fundraising event.
The first Elephant’s Tea Party will take place in June 2013, and primary schools are being asked to sign up now so they can allocate time in their calendar and lesson plans. Schools that have signed up will be sent an activity pack and will be able to download further resources from the website.
Child Bereavement UK will be organising national PR in the build up to the campaign to help optimise the activities taking place in schools across the country.
Bereavement support in schools
The campaign was developed in consultation with bereaved parents and patrons of Child Bereavement UK, Paul and Louise Woodbridge, whose twins Betsy and William were killed in an accident.
Louise Woodbridge said: “We know from when our children went back to school after their brother and sister had died, what a huge difference the sensitive support of friends and teachers could make. We want Elephant’s Tea Party to help schools talk about the often difficult subject of death in a normal way, so that everyone has a better idea of what to say and do when someone is grieving. We also want everyone to enjoy the Elephant’s Tea Party and have loads of fun!”
Ann Rowland, director of bereavement services at Child Bereavement UK said: “By talking about death and dying as a normal and natural subject, it enables bereaved children to have better coping skills. Giving children support from familiar, trusted adults, will mean that most will not need professional help. Schools are well placed to provide this support.”
For more information on the campaign, go to www.elephantsteaparty.co.uk
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