Memory Rock Painting Activity
 Materials Required:
  • Flat rocks with a smooth surface to paint on
  • Paint (I prefer Acrylic because it dries faster)
  • Fine tipped black Sharpie pen for fine detail
  • A sealer for your finished product to protect it from the weather. I have used a UV-resistant clear matte spray that I got from a craft store.
Instructions: Find a peaceful place to paint your rocks and share memories about the loved ones you are wanting to remember. Paint the rocks with whatever reminds you of your loved one who has died. Then wait for it to dry (which could take a day or two - sometimes I do this activity over two days). Then coat with a sealer to try to protect it from discoloring and damage. 
 Using the Memory Rock Painting Activity with a Group
I have done this activity in big groups before and I notice that people will often break off into smaller groups and share memories about their loved one(s). I do not try to create conversation about grief and loss; it just tends to naturally occur. The only instructions I give is to paint this rock in memory of their loved one. Once we are done painting our rocks, we take them somewhere outside to put the sealer on. I explain that this rock can then be put in a garden, on a shelf, or anywhere else that they spend time remembering their loved one.
Memory Lantern Activity
 Materials Required: 
  • A jar (per person),
  • Alphabet letter stickers, and
  • Other craft materials you would like on the outside of the jar
  • If you would like to hang the lantern, you could get wire, a wire cutter, and pillars to twist the wire and get rid of any sharp edges
Instructions: Find a calming place to set up your craft supplies. Then decorate the lantern however you wish. You may encourage the child to make the lantern in memory of their loved one who has died, but let them know that they can decorate the lantern look however they want to. Create your own lantern as the child works on theirs. While you create alongside each other you will have opportunities to talk about special memories you have of the loved ones you are remembering. Try to keep the focus on the child and their stories, but it can be helpful if you share similar stories to theirs to help them normalize their feelings.
Using the Memory Lantern Activity with a Group
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After you have all created your memory lanterns while sharing your stories, stand together in a circle. Instruct the group that one at a time, they will step into the circle, and say something about their loved one and place their lantern in the middle of the circle. When I have done this activity before, the question I asked the group to say was what they would do if they had one more day with their loved one. The statements were thoughtful, heartwarming,  and meaningful. It is important to remember that not all people wish to express their grief in the same way, so always let the children know that they do not have to say their statement out loud and they can choose to walk into the circle and put their lantern together with the others without saying their statement. This can be quite a powerful activity, so make sure you leave time for the children to be able to express their feelings after the activity.If possible, it can be helpful to do this activity in an area where there is little distractions and it can also be helpful to wait until the sun goes down. Some of us try to hide our tears from others. I found that the darkness allowed the children permission to let their emotions out and cry if they wish to. I also found it helpful to have bubbles for blowing on hand as the children can blow the bubbles out into the sky which makes them breathe deep breaths which will hopefully help them feel calm. ​