KidsGrief.ca can help you understand how children (ages 0 to 18) grieve and how to support them as they face the life-limiting illness, dying and death of someone important to them. It also suggests ways to introduce children to the cycle of life and death long before someone they know is dying or has died. KidsGrief.ca learning modules have been developed by a team of experts in grief, and specifically children’s grief, together with people who have experienced loss and supported children through grief. (see Who developed KidsGrief.ca – For Parents). It is not meant to replace professional counselling or other health care services.

Whatever your role within the educational system, as someone who works with students, you are in a unique position to provide grief support to them. KidsGrief.ca can help you understand how children (ages 0 to 18) grieve and how to support them as they face the life-limiting illness, dying and death of someone important to them. It offers both structured and general guidelines for providing grief support to students under varying circumstances. KidsGrief.ca learning modules have been developed by a team of educators, experts in grief, and specifically children’s grief, together with people who have experienced loss and supported children through grief. (see Who developed KidsGrief.ca – For Educators). It is not meant to replace professional counselling or other health care services.

KidsGrief.ca is free to all users.

Depending on your reason for using KidsGrief.ca, you may find certain topics speak more strongly to you than others. There are several modules to choose from for parents and educators. Each includes a number of topics, each of which have several pages with text and video clips. You may work through the entire module topic by topic, or focus on specific subjects that you can chose from the list on the left side of the module page.

On the KidsGrief.ca home page, you’ll see modules for parents and educators.

• Click on the module to open it and find the module overview.
• Select a topic from the list on the left-hand side to go directly to that section, or click the arrows to navigate through the content.
• To select another module, simply click on the module title, which you’ll find highlighted by either green, orange or turquoise on the left side of the page.

To select a video, click on the arrow to start. You can expand the screen and click the X to close the video.

The content for KidsGrief.ca comes from several sources: peer-reviewed and published professional literature, including current bereavement research; the clinical expertise of the expert contributors; educators; individuals who shared their story of loss; and the family members who have been involved from planning through to launch of KidsGrief.ca.

The literature cited below has informed the content of KidsGrief.ca either directly or indirectly. We are indebted to those who research, educate and practice in the field of grief for sharing their wisdom and moving the field of bereavement support forward.

If the content brings up uncomfortably strong emotions, you may wish to stop and return to the content later. If you wish to connect with a professional about the content, select our Ask a Professional feature and post a question. A member of the Canadian Virtual Hospice team will respond within 3 business days. Our Discussion Forums provides a safe, welcoming place to find support from people who have “been there.” These forums are professionally moderated and, by using a username, your identity is protected.

The survey at the end of each section has 4 questions and takes about 2 minutes to complete. Your responses help us to improve KidsGrief.ca.

KidsGrief.ca can be viewed using cellphones, tablets and personal computers.

If you have questions regarding the content, you can use our Ask a Professional feature. A member of the Canadian Virtual Hospice team will respond. Or join KidsGrief.ca Q&A, our free monthly online forum where children’s grief specialist Andrea Warnick answers your questions.

Please email info@virtualhospice.ca

Canadian Virtual Hospice

The Canadian Virtual Hospice is the most comprehensive online centre in the world on palliative and end of life care, loss, and grief. It provides information and support to more than 2.4 million people living with a life-limiting illness, their families, health providers, educators and researchers. Virtual Hospice operates VirtualHospice.ca, Portailpalliatif.ca, MyGrief.ca, LivingMyCulture.ca, LivingOutLoud.life and Methadone4Pain.ca.

Funding for KidsGrief.ca was provided by:
Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)

CIRA is building a better online Canada through the Community Investment Program by funding innovative projects led by charities, not-for-profits and academic institutions that are making the internet better for all Canadians. CIRA is best known for our role managing the .CA domain on behalf of all Canadians. While this remains our primary mandate, as a member-based not-for-profit ourselves, we have a much broader goal to strengthen Canada's internet. The Community Investment Program is one of our most valuable contributions toward this goal and funds projects in digital literacy, online services, research and infrastructure. Every .CA domain name registered or renewed contributes to this program. To date CIRA has supported 100 projects with over $4.2 million in contributions.

Hope & Cope

Hope & Cope is a volunteer-based, professionally managed organization that provides support to cancer patients and their caregivers from two locations – its home base at the Jewish General Hospital’s Segal Cancer Centre and at its freestanding Wellness Centre, which focuses on cancer wellness and recovery. Hope & Cope’s comprehensive and innovative programs offer support, connection, information and practical resources to patients at every stage of cancer.

Canadian Virtual Hospice

The Canadian Virtual Hospice is the most comprehensive online centre in the world on palliative and end of life care, loss, and grief. It provides information and support to more than 2.4 million people living with a life-limiting illness, their families, health providers, educators and researchers. Virtual Hospice operates VirtualHospice.ca, Portailpalliatif.ca, MyGrief.ca, LivingMyCulture.ca, LivingOutLoud.life and Methadone4Pain.ca.

Funding for KidsGrief.ca was provided by:
Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)

CIRA is building a better online Canada through the Community Investment Program by funding innovative projects led by charities, not-for-profits and academic institutions that are making the internet better for all Canadians. CIRA is best known for our role managing the .CA domain on behalf of all Canadians. While this remains our primary mandate, as a member-based not-for-profit ourselves, we have a much broader goal to strengthen Canada's internet. The Community Investment Program is one of our most valuable contributions toward this goal and funds projects in digital literacy, online services, research and infrastructure. Every .CA domain name registered or renewed contributes to this program. To date CIRA has supported 100 projects with over $4.2 million in contributions.