HELPING HEARTS HEAL
A gentle place for children, parents, caregivers, and educators learning to carry love through loss. Created with care in collaboration with Ink Founders.
FOR CHILDREN
Missing someone you love can make your heart feel heavy. You may feel sad, confused, angry, lonely, or even happy when you remember something silly they did. Every one of those feelings is okay.
Your pet knew your voice, your touch, and your love. They knew when you were playing together, resting together, or simply sitting quietly nearby. Nothing can take those moments away.
When you miss your friend, you can draw a picture, write down a favorite memory, tell someone a funny story, or say their name out loud. Remembering them may make you cry, but it can also make you smile.
Your friend may no longer be where you can see them, but the love you shared is still with you—and love that real never completely leaves.
FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
The death of a pet may be a child’s first experience with losing someone they deeply love. To a child, an animal is rarely “just a pet.” They may be a best friend, playmate, protector, source of comfort, and important part of everyday family life.
Speak honestly using clear, age-appropriate words. Gentle phrases can be comforting, but expressions such as “went to sleep” may sometimes confuse or frighten younger children. Let your child know that death means the animal’s body stopped working and that nothing the child said, thought, or did caused it to happen.
Children grieve in different ways. Some will cry immediately. Others may ask the same questions repeatedly, become quieter, return quickly to playing, or show their feelings days or weeks later. There is no single correct way for a child to grieve.
Invite your child to talk without forcing the conversation. Share memories, look at photographs, create artwork, write a letter, plant something, or make a special place for a favorite picture. Most importantly, remind them that feeling happy again does not mean they have forgotten their friend.
Grief is the price of having loved someone very deeply. With patience, honesty, and reassurance, the pain can slowly make room for gratitude—and the memories that hurt today may someday bring more smiles than tears.
FOR EDUCATORS
The loss of a pet can significantly affect a child’s concentration, behavior, attendance, and ability to participate at school. For many children, this may be their first personal experience with death, and the depth of their grief should not be measured by whether the loved one was a person or an animal.
Acknowledge the loss sincerely and without minimizing it. Simple words such as “I’m sorry. Your pet was very important to you” can help a student feel understood. Avoid phrases like “It was only a pet” or immediately suggesting that the family can get another animal.
Offer patience and reasonable flexibility. A grieving student may need a quiet moment, additional time to complete work, or permission to speak with a trusted adult. Some children may welcome an opportunity to draw, write, or share a favorite memory, while others may prefer privacy. Let the student guide how much they wish to discuss.
Watch for significant or lasting changes in behavior, school performance, relationships, sleep, or emotional regulation. When appropriate, communicate with the child’s caregiver and follow the school’s established support procedures.
Educators cannot remove a child’s grief, but a calm, compassionate response can make school feel safe while that child’s heart begins to heal.