Teacher’s Creative Lesson on Grief Resonates with Parents Worldwide
A fourth-grade teacher, Ryan Brazil, recently demonstrated a creative approach to explaining grief to her students, capturing the attention of many parents and educators online. Using a simple glass vase, Brazil illustrated how grief can occupy emotional space in our hearts and minds, offering a lesson that has resonated well beyond her classroom.
In a viral Instagram video, which has garnered more than 417,000 views, Brazil uses pom-poms and a crumpled piece of paper to convey her message. The vase symbolizes her brain and heart, while the pom-poms represent daily stresses and distractions. She then introduces the crumpled paper as a representation of grief, explaining to her students that it takes up space that could otherwise be occupied by patience and calm.
Brazil’s decision to share her personal experience stems from the recent loss of her sister. She felt it was essential for her students to understand her emotional state and the impact of grief on her behavior. By addressing her pain openly, she encouraged her students to express their feelings as well.
After the demonstration, the class engaged in an activity where they created their own “vases.” They filled these drawings with their thoughts and feelings while decorating the outside with positive elements like kindness, laughter, and art. Together, they crafted a message: “We make space for each other.”
Understanding Grief in Childhood
Children process grief differently than adults, often grappling with emotions they may not fully comprehend. Research from Continuity in Education indicates that age-appropriate conversations about loss can foster emotional resilience and help mitigate anxiety in children. Similarly, findings from the Child Mind Institute suggest that when adults model emotional expression, children learn to regulate their feelings more effectively.
Brazil’s vase demonstration provided her students with a concrete way to understand their emotional capacities. She illustrated that it is normal for one’s emotional space to feel limited at times, particularly during moments of grief. By sharing her own vulnerability, she highlighted that adults also experience struggles, reinforcing the idea that emotions should be acknowledged rather than hidden.
Reactions from Viewers
The comments on Brazil’s video reflect the powerful impact her lesson has had across various audiences. Many viewers expressed gratitude for her openness and creativity. “We need more of this kind of teaching. It’s really powerful for our students,” wrote one user. Others shared personal reflections, noting how the visual metaphor of the vase resonated deeply with their own experiences of grief, highlighting the universal nature of her message.
Parents and educators are encouraged to adopt similar strategies to help children navigate their emotions. One suggestion is to create a “heart space” jar, where children can place drawings or keepsakes that symbolize their feelings of loss. This practice can help externalize emotions, making them more manageable.
Using Brazil’s metaphor, parents can also articulate emotional overload in simple terms. Saying something like “my vase feels really full today” helps model emotional awareness without instilling shame. Continued conversations about loss and emotional well-being are crucial in fostering long-term coping skills for children, as noted by research from the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Brazil’s lesson underscores the importance of compassion and understanding in the face of grief. When she told her students, “We make space for each other,” she conveyed a profound truth: while grief may diminish our emotional capacity, empathy can help expand it once more. By creating an environment where feelings can be shared openly, adults demonstrate that it is safe for children to express their own emotions, ultimately facilitating healing and understanding.
