Cornerstone’s Kids Offers Safe Space for Central Florida Children to Express Feelings, Cope with Loss

Nov 17, 2020 at 12:13 pm by pj


Activities, camps, and counseling offered to students, ages 6 – 17, for free.

 

Tavares – Nearly everyone experiences stress and sadness when a loved one is lost. For children, it can be more difficult and complicated to deal with thoughts and feelings associated with grief.

The Cornerstone’s Kids Program, offered to children, ages 6 – 17, living in Lake, Sumter, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties in Florida provides specially designed services that help children alleviate anxiety, deal with their feelings and learn to cope.

Led by Cornerstone Hospice children’s bereavement counselor Kristen Nardolillo, LCSW, Cornerstone’s Kids utilizes art therapy, creative writing, storytelling, play therapy and visualization as well as socially entertaining events to help children explore their thoughts and feelings. All activities will be held virtually, for now.

“Cornerstone’s Kids offers a series of workshops and activities that any child can participate in, whether or not they have suffered a loss,” said Nardolillo. “Some activities are specifically geared toward bereavement but others, such as movie and game nights, are open to any child. In a world where more and more activities are being held virtually, there’s little fun for kids to have.

Cornerstone’s Kids offers children a community where they can be engaged with peers and enjoy healthy and positive interactions.”

Children and families register to join Cornerstone’s Kids for free and receive access to members’ only activities and resources. As Cornerstone’s Kids members, each child receives a welcome packet, an invitation to monthly workshops and counseling sessions, as well as the option to participate in Camp Bridges, an overnight camp for children dealing with the loss of a loved one.

“This was the first time in more than 20 years that we couldn’t offer Camp Bridges because of the pandemic,” said Nardolillo. “We didn’t want to wait until next year to offer a fun and therapeutic outlet for the kids in our bereavement program.

Cornerstone’s Kids offers a variety of activities each month that children can participate in while getting the support they need to feel safe, secure and happy.”

Cornerstone’s Kids offers resources to help an entire family that is dealing with loss. Additionally, Cornerstone’s Kids provides support for families with a child in hospice care including specialized guidance to address a variety of needs that arise when dealing with a life limiting illness.

For information about Cornerstone’s Kids, visit www.CornerstoneHospice.org/Cornerstones-Kids or call 866-742-6655.

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