TedSunBeams- a very special little bear

 

Death is one of the hardest subjects to broach with young children, sadly death is also an inescapable part of life, children need to understand it and find ways to grieve the loss and develop appropriate coping mechanisms.

Young children are aware of death from an early age. They may hear about it in fairy tales, see it on TV, and encounter dead insects, birds, some children may have already experienced the death of a pet or a family member.

Despite this, there are aspects of death that young children still can't understand, for example, that death is permanent, inevitable, and happens to everyone.

The Sunbeams programme helps children understand that goodbyes are part of life, a part of the resolution of grief and a chance for new beginnings

Children process grief in chunks, not all at once, many delay grieving until they feel it's safe to let those feelings out. Children learn to understand that everyone has feelings, that they are natural, that there are no ‘GOOD’ or ‘BAD’ feelings. Feelings can be happy, sad, painful, Feelings just are! They are part of us.

The children are introduced to their SunBeams bear at the first meeting who they name, their bear attends every meeting with them.

2022 is @Rainbows GB 30 year anniversary, #TedSunbeams has been helping children cope with the stresses of relationship breakdown, death and loss throughout. He helps children build trusting relationships, he is always there with a listening ear and a hug, and he is a very special bear.