Children's Wind Phones

Le téléphone du vent
Villars-Burquin, Switzerland
Grief touches children quietly and deeply. Children often struggle to find the words or outlets to express what they carry. A Wind Phone offers them something rare, a safe, quiet, symbolic space to speak and remember. Whether they whisper, shout, or sit in silence holding the receiver, the phone becomes a tool for connection, comfort, and healing. Wind Phones can help children feel heard, comforted, and less alone.
On this page, you will find thoughtful ways Wind Phones can gently support children through grief with tenderness, care, and creativity, including resources for parents, caregivers, and educators. Wind Phones are gently helping children give voice to their feelings—one call at a time.
Please check back often, this page is a work in progress!
Public access locations can be found on the
Using a Wind Phone with Your Child
A gentle tool for big feelings
When a child is grieving or missing someone, they often don’t have the words—or aren’t sure where to put them. A Wind Phone offers a quiet, comforting space where those feelings can be spoken, even if they’re hard to explain. The concept of a Wind Phone began in Japan after Itaru Sasaki's heartbreaking loss of his cousin. Wind Phones are now placed around the world as a way to connect with those who have passed or as a tool to heal other types of grief we carry. Wind Phones are not connected to a phone line; instead, they’re a symbolic place to speak from the heart.
For children, the Wind Phone can be a bridge between what’s inside and what they’re ready to share. It can become a safe place to say “I miss you,” “I’m angry,” “I love you,” or simply to sit in silence with someone they miss.
It’s hard to know what to say when your child is hurting and often, children don’t know how to talk about it. As parents, we don’t always know what to say either. I’ve included ideas for how to introduce a Wind Phone to your child, and a short script to help you begin talking about Wind Phones with them.. It’s not fancy. It’s just a gentle way to say, “I’m here. It’s okay to feel sad. It’s okay to talk. I’m listening.” The Wind Phone can be a quiet space for those big feelings - spoken or unspoken - to be held with love.

Emily Dawson ~ 2018
How to Introduce a Wind Phone to a Child
Start with a Story or Question
Children respond well to stories and are naturally curious. You might say something like:
“Did you know there’s a special phone where people can talk to someone they miss—even if that person isn’t here anymore?” Or: "Sometimes when we miss someone, it helps to say things out loud. There’s a phone just for that.”
Explain in Simple Terms
Adjust your words and approach based on your child’s age. Here are some examples.
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Ages 3–6:
“This phone doesn’t connect to someone like it does when we call (fill in a name of someone your child speaks with on the phone), when we call on a Wind Phone, the wind can carry our words to the people we love.”
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Ages 7–12:
“It’s a quiet place to talk to someone who’s died, or someone far away. You can tell them what you’re feeling, share a memory, or say something you didn’t get to say."
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Teens:
“It can feel strange to have things left unsaid. A Wind Phone gives you a place to speak those words without judgment or pressure.”
Invite, Don’t Require
Let your child know it’s their choice to use the Wind Phone.. You might say, “You can pick up the phone and say whatever you want. Or just hold it. You don’t even have to talk if you don’t feel like it.”
Model the Experience
If your child seems uncertain, try using the Wind Phone first: You could say, “I think I’m going to say hi to Grandpa. I miss his jokes. Want to listen, or make your call after me?”
Offer Creative Options
Wind Phones are a powerful healing tool, but like anything, they aren't for everyone. Some children feel more comfortable writing or drawing. You can encourage your child to:
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Speak into the phone
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Leave a note in a Wind Phone journal
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Draw a picture of who they’re calling
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Download these Wind Phone activities
Reassure and Reflect
Afterward, ask your child questions gently, such as
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“How did that feel?”
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“What would you want them to know?”
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Or simply say: “That was brave. Thank you for sharing your heart.”
It's important to remember that grief isn’t something we fix; it’s something we walk through together. The Wind Phone can be a tender step on that path. Let love lead the way.
Children's Wind Phone Gallery

Children and families at the Wind Phone
A few thoughts after two years of experience with Switzerland's first Wind Phone
By Patrick Genaine
I’m honored to share the writing of my friend and Wind Phone “guardian” Mr. Patrick Genaine, the creator of Le téléphone du vent in Villars-Burquin, Switzerland. With decades of experience in psychology, social work, and grief support, his life’s work has centered on walking alongside others in their most tender moments. After losing a child at birth, he turned his personal grief into a deep commitment to helping others heal. Today, through his private practice and his Wind Phone, he continues to offer a quiet, compassionate presence to those navigating loss.
I’m deeply grateful to Patrick for his friendship, for his contribution below to our Children’s Wind Phone section, and for all the ways he helps grow and guide this beautiful movement.
Children and families at the Wind Phone
A few thoughts after two years of experience with Switzerland's first wind phone.
By Patrick Genaine
The booth in Villars-Burquin was the first to make a phone available for children. The idea came to me during its construction. I felt that this device could be a great help to children experiencing grief, and I thought it would be interesting to add a specific phone for them. Mine is green, with little hearts and shiny stars stuck on it. So, it's called the heart and stars phone. Next to the phone, I put up the following sign:
For Children, The Choice of Phone
For some children, it will be important to be able to use the same phone as adults, “the grown-ups' phone.”
But, for others, having a special device just for them will help them express themselves. That's why the Heart and Stars Phone is available.
And maybe some children will want to use both... why not!
And maybe some parents will want to use the Heart and Stars Phone to call their child or baby.
Anything is possible.

