01/30/2026
Fernside Friday Fact: Why Expressive Arts?
Very often, children and teens find it hard or nearly impossible to express their grief with words. At Fernside, we use art to help children explore the feelings they have after experiencing a death. Using expressive arts can facilitate a healthy release of feelings such as anger, frustration, anxiety, sadness and even joy. The arts provide an alternative to verbal communication and can allow a grieving child to express feelings that might be too difficult to talk about. They can draw it, paint it, sculpt it, or write it. An art piece created by a child can be a catalyst for communication among family members about their loss. The art conveys the range of emotions that are the reality for children who have experienced a significant death.