Explaining Death to Children: What Not to Do

By: Matthew Funeral Home
Monday, July 9, 2018


Death can be a difficult concept to explain to a child. When working with your child to help them understand the finality of death, there are a number of things to avoid, and how to go about the conversation. Most children will ask questions, which is alright. 

Don’t Hide Your Emotions

Death can be upsetting, for anyone. It is OK to show a child that you are hurt by the loss, and that pain is a part of that loss. You don’t have to hide the fact that you are crying because of your loss. You should let them express their emotions and be honest with how they feel. If they are uncomfortable with opening up to you, consider having them talk to a therapist.

Don’t Change Their Routine

A child’s routine can be vital to keeping them coping. Consistency is important for how the child’s life is structured. Big changes can throw them off completely. Try to keep them in as close to their normal routine as possible during grieving periods. 

Don’t Expect a Grieving Timeline

Grief happens differently for everyone. People will move through the stages of grief at different times, and everyone will react to grief in a number of ways. It is almost impossible to set up an accurate timeline; and it is unrealistic to expect them to stick to it. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Laugh

Laughter can be cathartic to people of all ages. Don’t be afraid to share stories of your loved one with them, and open up to them about good times with them. It can be the best solution to raise spirits after the funeral.

Don’t Be Afraid to Say “I Don’t Know”

Children often ask a lot of questions; especially “Why?” Death is a very complicated concept. As a parent, it may feel like walking on eggshells You should not be afraid to say that you don’t know. Try to be open and honest with your child about death when possible. 

For almost 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

Etiquette for Donating In a Loved One's Name

Some individuals or their families request donations to charity in place of flowers during the bereavement period. Most families will appreciate the donation in their loved one’s name. Especially i...

Grief and Losing Online Friends

In our technology-based world, more and more people have developed friendships completely in cyberspace. Consistent communication with gaming partners, online community members, and more allows us ...

Sending Sympathy Meals to a Loved One

When a friend or family member passes away, it is a common practice to send sympathy meals to the immediate family. Sympathy meals show your support for the family while providing them with food. W...

Validating Feelings of Grief

Grief is one of the most complex and misunderstood emotions for people to experience. One way to help your loved one cope with their grief is to validate their feelings. Supporting a loved one who ...

When a Loved One Receives a Terminal Diagnosis

When a loved one finds out that they have a terminal illness, it can be overwhelming to navigate the next steps. It can be difficult to know where to start. Preparations for care, end-of-life servi...

Choosing Your Loved One's Urn

When choosing an urn for your loved one’s cremated remains, there are many aspects to consider. Urns come in an array of shapes, sizes, colors, styles, and materials. It can be difficult to figure ...

Preplanning: Taking Charge of Your Own Funeral

There are many reasons to preplan your funeral, from mitigating costs to making your funeral easier for your loved ones upon your passing. But one important aspect of preplanning your funeral is es...

When is Grief Good?

Grief can make us feel like a great weight rests on our shoulders. Grieving can be a challenging, and often overwhelming, experience. Although grief is brought upon us by loss and sorrow, is it tru...

Grieving Pets

When a loved one passes, every member of the family is affected, even your pets. Dogs, cats, and other family pets can experience grief and can even mourn for a loved one. Below, we will discuss gr...

Grief and Dealing With Suicide

When faced with the loss of a loved one, the grief can be devastating. But when a loved one takes their own life, the grief that families feel afterward can often be complicated. According to the A...