Toys about death

It’s not the first thing you might think of when talking about death, but toys are absolutely part of guiding children around the topic of death, dying and saying goodbye.

When a child is dealing with the death of a loved one, it can be difficult to find words for all the feelings, thoughts and questions. Grief toys are specially designed to support children during such a period. It gives them the opportunity to playfully learn about themes such as saying goodbye, cremation or burial, and it helps adults to talk about them with children.

What are grief toys?

Funeral toys consist of construction sets and play elements that mimic recognizable parts of a funeral. Consider:

  • An auditorium where a farewell can take place,

  • a hearse and bearers with a casket,

  • a cemetery or urn wall,

  • and even a cremation furnace.

These components allow children to reenact scenes they may have already experienced, or that prepare them for an upcoming funeral.

Purpose and function

The purpose of grief toys is not to trivialize death, but rather to make it discussable. Through play:

  • children are given direction and can ask questions;

  • a funeral or cremation becomes less threatening because the situation becomes recognizable;

  • emotions and experiences can be processed in a safe way.

Grief toys are used by grief counselors, therapists, funeral directors, schools and, of course, within families, among others.

Development and use

In the Netherlands, grief toys became known by grief educator Richard Hattink, who designed several sets.

The strength of the toys lies in the fact that children through their own play can express their perceptions. They rebuild, ask questions or invent their own stories. For adults, this opens up a natural conversation about a topic that may otherwise be difficult to discuss.

to the webshop