How to Support Grieving Children; Insights from a Child Life Specialist
Lighting the Path: A New Concept of Hospice Care · Jun 9, 2026 · 28:52
Lighting the Path: A New Concept of Hospice Care
Lighting the Path: A New Concept of Hospice Care · Jun 9, 2026 · 28:52
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In this episode, we sit down with child life specialist Katie Ransdell to explore how children experience grief and how hospice professionals can better support them. Katie shares her journey into the field of child life, practical insights for working with grieving children, and meaningful stories from her work that highlight the power of presence and connection.
About Our Guest
Katie Ransdell is a certified child life specialist dedicated to supporting children and families through serious illness, grief, and loss. Her work focuses on helping children express emotions, understand complex experiences, and feel seen and supported during difficult times.
Episode Summary
What does it look like to truly support a grieving child? Child life specialist Katie Ransdell joins us to share her expertise in helping children navigate serious illness, loss, and grief. With compassion and clarity, Katie explains how her role developed, what child life specialists actually do, and how hospice teams can provide developmentally appropriate, emotionally attuned care to children.
Whether you are a chaplain, social worker, nurse, or volunteer, this conversation offers practical tools and heartfelt encouragement for engaging children during some of life's most difficult moments.
What You'll Learn
How Katie Ransdell became a child life specialist and what drew her to this work
The role of a child life specialist in supporting children through illness, death, and grief
Common misconceptions about how children understand death at different developmental stages
Practical ways hospice professionals can show up for grieving children with confidence and compassion
The importance of play, language, and presence in helping children process loss
Memorable stories from Katie's work that illustrate the impact of simple, meaningful connection
Key Takeaways
Children grieve differently than adults, and their understanding of death evolves with age and development
Honest, age-appropriate communication builds trust and reduces fear
Presence matters more than having the "right" words
Small interactions—through play, art, or conversation—can have lasting impact
Hospice teams can support both children and their caregivers by modeling openness and emotional safety
You can learn more about Katie and her organization, Grief Garden, at Grief Garden | Children's grief support | Omaha, NE, USA
Connect with Harbor Hospice & Beacon Hospice:
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