Back to School After Sibling Loss: Supporting Grieving Kids in the Classroom

August means back-to-school, and for many families, it also means navigating a new year with the weight of grief and the memory of a child who isn’t physically here.
In honor of Bereaved Parents Month, this special episode features public school educator Katie Gaffney and school mental health therapist Sally Wiley, who share their unique perspectives on how grief shows up in the classroom and how to better support children who have experienced the loss of a sibling.
Together, we explore how loss can impact learning and behavior, how to partner with teachers and counselors to create supportive environments, and simple, meaningful ways to include your angel baby in back-to-school traditions.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or school counselor, this conversation is full of practical advice and gentle reminders that you’re not alone—and that there’s no one right way to do this.
📚 Book recommendations from the episode:
• The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
• Everywhere Still by M.H. Clark
• Memory Jars by Vera Brosgol
• I Miss You by Pat Thomas
🤍 If you’re a family navigating pregnancy or infant loss, we’d love to connect: nofoottoosmall.org/families
🎧 Listen, follow, and share our podcast: nofoottoosmall.org/podcast
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Special thanks to Storyline Multimedia for helping us hold space for these conversations.

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