Supporting Siblings Through Grief
A safe space for brothers and sisters to be seen, supported, and remembered too.
Grief Doesn’t Just Affect Parents
The loss of a brother or sister is life-changing. Children and teens often feel confused, left out, or unsure how to express their grief — especially when surrounded by adult sorrow. Precious Wings offers specialised sibling support that helps them feel seen, included, and safe to share.
Sibling grief can be complex and silent. That’s why we provide gentle, age-appropriate spaces for children and teenagers to process their feelings, ask questions, and honour their sibling in meaningful ways.
Creating Space for Siblings to Connect and Heal
While grief is often silent in children, it is no less deep. In September 2024, Precious Wings hosted its first-ever 2-day Bereaved Sibling Equine Retreat, welcoming ten children aged 6 to 13. This pilot program marked an important step toward creating meaningful, age-appropriate spaces for siblings to explore their grief, connect with others, and honour the memory of their brother or sister — all in a supportive, nature-based setting.
This is only the beginning of our journey to support bereaved siblings with purpose and care.
Nature-Based Connection
Siblings engaged in gentle equine activities that encouraged trust, calm, and connection with animals and peers. Nature became a safe space for processing feelings too big for words.
Creative Therapeutic Activities
Art, storytelling, and expressive play were central to the retreat — giving children the tools to explore grief, remember their sibling, and express themselves in comforting ways.
Peer Connection & Belonging
The retreat created opportunities for bereaved siblings to simply “be” with others who understood. From quiet conversations to shared moments of fun, these bonds can become powerful sources of healing.
How You Can Support a Grieving Child
We understand that as a parent, you are grieving too. Supporting your surviving children while processing your own deep sorrow is incredibly difficult — and deeply courageous. At Precious Wings, we offer gentle guidance to help you support your child through sibling loss. From using age-appropriate language to creating personal remembrance rituals, we help families nurture a safe environment where every child feels included, remembered, and held with love.
During our sibling retreat, we also held space for parents. On the first morning, while children began their therapeutic activities, a group of mums and dads were invited to take part in a ‘Mindful Meander’ — a guided, sensory walk through nature. Beginning with meditation, this quiet stroll helped parents slow down, breathe, and find a moment of calm presence amidst the storm of grief. It reminded us that supporting a grieving sibling begins with caring for ourselves too.