Heritage and Healing: Supporting Grieving Children During Childhood Grief Awareness Month | MiAltar Blog
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Heritage and Healing: Supporting Grieving Children During Childhood Grief Awareness Month
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By Guest Blogger, Angie Cruz, DSW-C, LCSW The month of November begins with the culturally rich tradition of Día de los Muertos, a time to honor and celebrate the lives of those who have passed. But November 1st also marks the start of Childhood Grief Awareness Month, a reminder of the countless children navigating the complex journey of loss (National Alliance for Grieving Children, n.d.). These children often find themselves grieving in silence, yet their experiences are profoundly shaped by the cultural traditions that surround them.
This November, as we observe Childhood Grief Awareness Month, we must turn our hearts toward the children grappling with profound losses. Childhood grief is different from adult grief in that children often lack the emotional vocabulary and life experience to fully express or understand their feelings. Grief in children is not simply a wave of sadness but an intricate emotional lifelong journey, shaped deeply by the cultural roots that hold their identity. When a child loses a parent, a sibling, or a close loved one, their grief unfolds within the unique framework of their cultural background, and we must recognize this (Stevenson & Cox, 2017, p.45).
Grief is universal, but how it manifests is anything but. It is colored by tradition, belief systems, and family customs, creating a deeply personal experience for every child. For children from diverse or marginalized communities, their grief is further intertwined with rituals, spiritual perspectives, and societal expectations that define how loss is perceived. In some cultures, death is a spiritual passage marked by celebration and ritual; in others, grief may be more private, held in silence and reflection.
By failing to incorporate these cultural nuances into our support for grieving children, we risk isolating them and making them feel as if their grief is somehow wrong (Falzarano et al., 2022). This is where cultural sensitivity becomes essential. To truly stand with these children in their grief, we must first honor their heritage: their traditions, values, and ways of expressing sorrow. Only then can we create an inclusive space where healing can begin.
Mi Altar Virtual
serves as a culturally sensitive platform for healing,
offering children and their families a sanctuary to honor lost loved ones in a way that deeply reflects and resonates with their cultural identity
. Whether it’s through lighting a virtual candle, sharing a cherished story, or taking part in Día de Muertos traditions, these rituals ground children in their heritage. In doing so, we provide them with a sense of belonging at a time when they may feel disconnected. Supporting grieving children is not only about addressing their pain but about
nurturing their connection to their community, to their past, and to the customs that give their grief meaning
. It’s about saying, "Your way of grieving is sacred, and we see you."
As we honor this season of remembrance and Childhood Grief Awareness Month, let us pledge to walk beside grieving children with open hearts and deep respect for the rich cultural stories that shape their grief. Let us create spaces, like virtual
ofrendas,
where children can not only mourn but heal, surrounded by the traditions that have held their families for generations. Because
true healing comes not just from acknowledging grief, but from honoring the rich legacy that helps us navigate through it
.
We invite you to create a digital altar on MiAltar at
is a bilingual clinical social worker, educator, and Doctor of Social Work candidate with extensive experience in supporting children and families navigating grief and loss and serving these communities in clinical practice and the child welfare system. A proud first-generation Mexican American raised in California, her family originates from Guanajuato and Mexico City, inspiring her deep commitment to cultural inclusivity and empowering vulnerable populations through a compassionate practice.
Falzarano, F., Winoker, H., Burke, R. V., Mendoza, J. A., Munoz, F., Tergas, A., Maciejewski, P. K., & Prigerson, H. G. (2022). Grief and bereavement in the Latino/a community: A literature synthesis and directions for future research.
Health Equity, 6
(1), 696–707.
National Alliance for Grieving Children (NAGC). (n.d.). National Childhood Grief Awareness Month. Retrieved from
