Martina Špinková, an artist, author of children’s books, and the founder of Cesta domů, has written several books for children to help them understand their own fears as well as coping with the death of a loved one. Two of the books have been translated into English.
Parents are usually reluctant to discuss fear and grief with children as childhood is viewed as a time of innocence with parents shielding their children from the bad things in life. However, uncertainty and death are part of life which all children will face eventually.
In Divny Brach Starch (Fear – a Brother Like No Other) Ms. Špinková addresses children’s fear through illustration and text. The numerous pictures and short text make it easy for children to read. It starts by acknowledging the strangeness of fear; since most fear is emotional, it has no form, no shape, and cannot be seen or touched. And things not seen can be magnified by a child’s imagination. Yet there are physical things, too, such as scary animals, big vehicles, mysterious sounds and dark rooms. For some children, night time and quiet are a cause of fear. The book examines all these aspects and concludes with some tips for children on dealing with various fears.
Anna a Anicka (Annie and her Granny) is the story of an aging grandmother who can no longer live alone and comes to live with her adult child and family. Anna is close to her grandmother for whom she is named, and over time she observes her grandmother’s declining health. When the granny dies, Annie must cope with her death. Reading this book to a child can provide an opportunity to talk about death, fear, and loss.
Death is an inevitable part of life, and preparing their children emotionally to survive loss is a part of good parenting. Children will be better prepared for the inevitable crises that lie ahead. Discussing death through stories gives children the information that will prepare them for reality, but in an impersonal, hypothetical framework where it is safe to explore, imagine, and question. Children are very intuitive, and when they sense their parents are uncomfortable, they will come to their own conclusions – often false. If children suppress or hide their grief, they deny themselves access to a supportive parent at the time they most need one.
Humans form deep attachments to others and the emotional relationship does not end with the death of someone close. In Annie and her Granny, we see how Annie holds onto her emotional relationship with her grandmother and nurtures it. It is a powerful message of love surviving death.
The books can be purchased in Czech and English at the Cesta Domů thrift shops at Bubenská 421/3, 170 00 Praha 7 or Bělohorská 1643/90, 169 00 Praha 6.
Cestu domů, The Way Home, provides hospice care to people within the Czech Republic. They also operate two thrift shops and a café that support their services. In 2015, they were an IWAP Christmas Market Charity. To learn more about Cestu domů, please review their website by clicking here.
IWAP has proudly supported numerous Czech charities throughout the years, to find out more about the Charity Committee please click here.
Barbara Woodard, MSW, a retired Social Worker from California moved to Prague to be with her two grandsons. She joined IWAP to make friends and soon became busy with the Charity Committee. She uses her social work background to help the committee assess the Czech Charities IWAP supports. Barbara says this is the best time of her life, living in a beautiful city, two loving grandchildren, good friends, and raising money for charities that help people living within the Czech Republic.
