Activities · «Sadness and Love»
What I would like to tell you
A letter that keeps on speaking
Think of someone, or something, you miss and write them a letter, or draw it for them. You can tell them how you feel, what you remember or what you would have liked to say. Start with «Dear…» and finish however you like. The letter is yours: you don't have to send it to anyone.
What is it for?
When we miss someone or something, there are sometimes words, questions or feelings left that we need to express. Writing or drawing a letter can give the child a space of their own to shape them, without having to say everything aloud or send the letter.
It is not about forgetting or making sadness disappear, but about allowing the child to find ways of expressing what they feel.
How to do it
Offer the child paper and materials to write or draw. They can address someone they miss, a pet, a place or anything important to them. They can say how they feel, remember something, ask questions or write what they would like the other to know. If they can't write yet, they can dictate the letter to you so that you write it for them, or make drawings while they talk, as if they were writing it.
They don't need to follow a structure or end the letter in any particular way. They can keep it, share it if they want to or decide later what to do with it. There is no need to send it.
If the child wants to show it to you, listen without correcting their words or trying to change what they feel. Respect their privacy and don't ask them to read it if they don't want to.
What can the child experience or learn?
They can find a way to express feelings, memories or words that were left unsaid. The letter can also help them recognise what they feel, without having to solve everything or find answers.
The child discovers that they can keep missing someone and keep the emotional bond, even if the person or the situation is no longer present. The letter does not erase sadness: it offers a space where they can express themselves at their own pace.
The letter is theirs. They can write it, draw it, keep it or not share it. There is no right way to do it.
Closing the exercise
There is no need to send or read the letter. If the child wants to keep it, let them choose where: an envelope, a box, inside the book itself. That gesture of keeping is what turns the writing into a refuge.
This activity keeps company, but does not replace the help of a professional when a child needs it. When to look for help.
Carry on with another activity
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