Testimonials
Professional Reviews of Growing Memories:
A Musical Audio Circle Story of Love, Loss, and Resilience
It was a pleasure experiencing the first chapter of Growing Memories. The story and language is simple yet thoughtful. The illustrations, music and sounds add a gentle tone while activating the imagination and enhancing engagement. The story is touching and beautifully put together.
This digital storybook provides adults with a practical framework for supporting children in understanding death and emotional responses to loss. The use of story, illustration, and music, connected to the world around them, creates a meaningful and engaging learning experience. There is an overall sense of calmness consistent throughout the chapter. The child-appropriate and thoughtful prompts encourage emotional expression, reflection, and learning. This is a gentle, compassionate, and valuable resource for adults supporting children.
Thank you for sharing your work, and for all the effort you put into creating a resource for children and the adults supporting them.
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Reviewed by:
Ami Armagost, MSW, RSW
Grief Therapist
AWC Grief Support
She/her
ami@awcgrief.com
www.awcgrief.com
Testimonial
Thank you for sharing this wonderful resource with me. I really appreciated the thoughtful flow of this resource. The lessons build naturally on one another, and the content feels very relevant and meaningful for children who are grieving. I especially valued how it incorporates learning from both students and educators. The inclusion of grief literacy and bullying also really resonated with me, as these are areas we encounter often in our work. I’m looking forward to exploring this resource more deeply over time and seeing how it can continue to support children and educators.
Reviewed by:
Ally de Ruiter
The Nightingale Centre
Ally de Ruiter is the Grow in Grief (GiG) Family Counsellor at The Nightingale Centre in Guelph, Ontario. She has more than 10 years of experience in grief and bereavement, working with children, youth, caregivers, and professionals in homes, schools, and community settings.
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Certified Child Life Specialist
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Early Childhood Educator
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Degree in Children’s Studies and Advocacy
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Master’s in Education
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Professor in the Early Childhood Education program at Conestoga College
Growing Memories Resources
Explore Complimentary Chapter One & Professional Preview
Chapter One: Maya and the Daisy Crown
Discover the beginning of the Growing Memories™ journey with complimentary access to Chapter One, a meaningful introduction to attachment, loss, safety, and the role of nature in supporting children through big feelings. (Tap Chapter 1 link below)
Private Professional Preview: Chapters 1–9 & Epilogue
Connect with Laurel to request a complimentary private preview of the Growing Memories™ 10-week SEL and grief literacy journey for children ages 5–8 and their caring adults. (Tap Private Preview link below)
Also Included: The Four Seasons Nature Connection Song
A nature connection and grief literacy resource that explores change, resilience, connection, and renewal through the seasons.
Explore Growing Memories Resources
Select a resource below to visit its dedicated landing page, where you can learn more about the resource and access options.
Created for Children &
the Adults Who Support Them.
Growing Memories is designed for:
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Kindergarten to Grade 3
Ages 5–8 -
Schools & School Mental Health Teams
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Child & Youth Counsellors, Hospices & Paediatric Care
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Bereavement & Grief Support Organizations
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Libraries & Community Outreach Programs
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Families & Caregivers
Growing Memories is a circle-based educational program that supports children's emotional literacy, bereavement awareness, self-regulation, and social-emotional learning through story, music, movement, nature, and creative expression.
Chapter One serves as both a standalone introductory experience and the foundation for the complete ten-chapter Growing Memories journey, guiding children through a gentle exploration of grief, remembrance, connection, and resilience. A gentle introduction to Growing Memories and the foundation for the nine chapter journey. Discover how story, music, and nature connection create a gentle foundation for exploring BIG questions, feelings, and life experiences.
A Gentle SEL Journey Through the School Year
The ten chapters can unfold across the seasons of the school year, creating a consistent and ongoing space for grief literacy, emotional awareness, and connection.
Rather than treating grief as a single conversation, Growing Memories offers children gentle opportunities to return to feelings, thoughts, memories, change, and connection throughout the year.
Each chapter builds on the last while drawing on the natural cycles of the seasons to support reflection, conversation, and growth.
This continual approach helps make grief literacy a natural part of classroom life, giving children repeated opportunities to notice, express, listen, and connect within a caring community.
Begin the Growing Memories journey and help children discover resilience through compassion, connection, and story.
Evidence Based References: