When I was 10 years old, my mom passed away from breast cancer. Processing her death and the massive hole which her absence left in our family was far beyond me. Looking back on the experience now that I am decades removed from it, I realize how unable I was to deal with something like that. I was still a child, and children lack the adult vocabulary for grief.
There is really no good time to lose a loved one, but bereaved children have it especially hard because they can’t find words to reconcile their loss. Words aren’t of much use to them in that situation. Words can certainly help, but children simply aren’t prepared for the realities of losing an anchor figure in their life.
Sometimes we just need a little encouragement and guidance, especially when we’re younger. My mom had always encouraged me with my artwork, and it was a way that I truly connected with her. I have great memories of her proudly looking at my work and encouraging me. She was an artist and had worked on The Jungle Book animated feature at Disney Studios before I was born. Knowing that she was a part of something so special always made me proud.
The great thing about art is that it bypasses intellectual defenses. It gives voice to emotions which we can’t put words to. It is a fantastic tool for processing emotions, and especially for working through grief. Drawing, movement, color, and creation all externalize emotion. Creative expression restores agency inside us and allows us to be a unified voice, even for a little while. That is something which is so powerful.
The creative process also gives children something which grief often takes away: a sense of control. Loss can make the world suddenly feel unstable and frightening. Through art, children are able to make choices again. They choose colors, shapes, textures, movement, and symbols. They create something outside themselves which reflects something happening within them. Even simple acts of creation can help restore a sense of agency and identity during difficult times.
One of the beautiful things about creative expression is that it is not dependent upon talent or technical ability. Art is not about perfection. It is not about performance. It is about honesty. Sometimes healing looks like a detailed painting, and sometimes it looks like scribbled colors on paper. Both can carry meaning. Both can help a child express emotions which may otherwise remain trapped inside them.
Creative spaces can also provide something equally important: safety. When children feel emotionally safe, they are more willing to express difficult feelings without fear of judgment or failure. The process itself becomes more important than the outcome. There is no “wrong way” to express grief through creativity. The goal is not to create impressive artwork. The goal is to create space for emotion, reflection, connection, and healing.
I think many adults forget how naturally creative children are before the world teaches them to become self-conscious. Children draw, imagine, build, dance, and create because it is part of how they understand life. Creativity is already their language. Art simply helps give form to feelings which may otherwise remain difficult to explain.
For grieving children especially, that can be incredibly powerful.
At Open Canvas Project, we believe creativity can help children feel seen, heard, and supported through some of life’s most difficult experiences. We believe healing can begin with something as simple as a paintbrush, a conversation, a shared moment, or the encouragement to create freely without fear.
Sometimes words are not enough.
Sometimes art helps speak for the heart.
