Supportive Activities to Do with Your Family

Making arts and crafts together can be a fun and relaxing experience. When done with a close group of people such as your family, it can be a very healthy, non-threatening way to connect to and support each other during difficult times. Here are some suggestions for you to try.

There are so many occasions throughout the year when families and friends send cards to one another. Whether for holidays, birthdays, or simply to say hello, creating hand made cards together gives your family a chance to send warm wishes that are truly from all of you. Your family can also make cards for loved ones who have died. Consider writing a special message to them inside. You may want to keep all your family members' cards together in your home as a memorial.

To make the cards, begin by gathering paper to make the cards, stamps of your choice (can be purchased at an art/crafts shop or stamp shop), and a stamp pad. Then, start a family assembly line. Choose someone different to fold the paper to the size you want your cards, stamp the paper with an image, draw a border or design, write a message on the card, and address the envelopes. Once your cards are done, all of you can sign it.

Remember to Help Each Other.

In many cultures and traditions, candles are used as memorials to loved ones. If possible, consider buying a candle-making kit from your local arts and crafts store. Your family could make one candle together or each of you can make your own. You can also pick out candles at the store or find some you have in your home. Each of you may consider choosing a special color that represents the person in your family who has died. Place your candle(s) in a special place. Light the candle(s) when you think of your loved one and share your thoughts with someone else in your family.

Remember to Support Each Other.

Find some photos of your loved one. If you are making a collage for a special time of year, such as an anniversary, birthday, or holiday, you may be able to find pictures that were taken around that time in years past. Have them photocopied if you do not want to cut them up. Or, if you don't have photos for your collage, try drawing some. As a family, create a collage by cutting out the images and gluing them to a piece of paper. Consider ways to display it and/or bring it with you for those times when you would like to share it.

Remember to Care for Each Other.

Find an old box (a shoebox or any other box that has a lid on it). Decorate it. You may want to cover it with copied photos or drawings of the person who has died and of your other family members. You could also decorate it with drawings, writings, or poems your loved one created. You could cover it in wrapping paper or paint it your loved one's favorite color. Let your imagination go.

Once the box is decorated, you can place pieces of paper in the box. Whenever someone in your family remembers something about the person who died, they can write it down on the paper. Your family can choose a special day to read everyone's memories or just read them on your own from time to time.

You could also choose to put some special keepsakes of your loved one in the box (such as holiday cards they made for family members, drawings, poems, etc.) and have the box out for your family to look though when you feel like being close to that person.

Remember to Share Thoughts and Feelings with Each Other.

---

Content for this Victim Resources Help Guide has been adapted from "Holiday Things to do with Your Family" by Sandra Drabant, Art Therapist.