The Sandy Cubs group supports parents through telling their children, aged 5 years old and younger, that their loved one has died. The programme includes how much to share and the right words to use with young children. It supports them to think about the child’s experience, what helps a child manage their grief, and if older children are involved, the impact on those too.
Through play, Sandy Cubs develops positive ongoing relationships to aid remembrance and in doing so, increases the child’s self-esteem and emotional wellbeing when remembering a loved one. It provides a deeper sense of security for the child.
Strengthening a child’s ‘root’ of belonging stabilises emotional development and this is crucial for a young child, for emotional resilience and wellbeing in later life.