Talking About Death is Crucial, Especially for Children, and Here are a Few Ways to Make the Process Easier

While it’s a parent’s job to protect their children, some things cannot be avoided, and death and loss are some of those. Even with professional cremation services in Irvine, CA, there will still be a need to help them understand loss. So, let’s explore some helpful considerations and tips to make the process easier.

How do Children Understand Death?

The child’s age will determine their ability to understand death, and it’s important to remember that you need to use appropriate language. Each child will also have their own unique life experience, which can also impact their ability to grasp the information.

• Ages 2-4: Typically believe death is reversible and may think the deceased will return. They may ask casual questions and wonder if death happens to everyone.
• 5-8: They may still see death as reversible and start to wonder if their behavior or thoughts had something to do with it.
• 8-12: This age will be more likely to understand death as a permanent thing and begin to explore how it affects them. They also may try to understand how the individual passed away.
• 13-18: This age will understand death as a permanent thing but may begin to contemplate existential questions around the meaning of death and life.

Be Specific in Using the Word Death

Children have big imaginations, and not using the correct language could lead them to a different understanding of death. Avoid using euphemisms like lost, gone, or passed on, and let them know they had no cause for the individual passing away.

Know that You May Not Have All the Answers

It’s not uncommon for parents to worry about children asking challenging questions to which they may not have the answer. You don’t have to know everything, and it’s better, to be honest, and tell the child you don’t know, but you will try to find an answer rather than give them incorrect information.

Express Your Feelings

Showing your feelings is also crucial because children are intuitive. So, the child will notice if your body language and words do not align with what you are saying. Expressing your feelings also teaches them how to express their emotions and encourages them to talk openly about their experience.

Offer them Helpful Resources

It can also be helpful to find age-appropriate resources; this can help better understand the process of death and grief. So, choosing age-specific books, movies, or any other form of media can be a helpful option to provide them with.

We are Here to Provide You With Exceptional Services

Knowing how to discuss death openly is crucial, especially for children, because this can help them develop a healthy relationship with death and grief and manage the experience more easily.

And if you have recently suffered a loss and are looking for cremation services in Irvine, CA, we are here to assist you. Our primary focus is providing exceptional and meaningful services to our community, so contact us today if you have any questions.