Talking to Children About Death Talking to a child about someone close to them dying can
be difficult. Every child is different and may react differently to the grief
they are experiencing. Just because one child may be open to communication,
another may not.
This month’s blog at C R Low Funeral Directors
looks at talking to children about death. For more information, call us in
Selkirk on 01750 21259 .
Be Honest If you have lost someone close to you, you are going to be
upset. Rather than trying to hide your grief or leaving your child wondering be
honest with them. By letting them know why you are upset, they will better
understand the grieving process.
You may also try giving them information in small doses.
Be Ready for Their Reaction If this is the first time your child has lost someone in
their life, prepare for any reaction. Everyone reacts to the trauma
differently. They may be upset or angry. Let them deal with it in their own way
and give them time to process it.
Encourage Questions Be prepared for a child to be curious and for them to
repeatedly ask the same question over again. We understand that this can be
distressing, but it is a part of their need for reassurance. It helps them to
process information.
Prepare Them for the Funeral Make sure you talk to your child about what to expect at the
funeral. They may have questions about the burial or cremation, so make sure
they understand.
You should also discuss funeral protocol and how the day
will go. This gives them time to prepare themselves.
Activities to Manage Grief A great way to help children work through their grief is by completing
activities. You could create a memory box which helps children reminisce on
memories of those who passed. Help them make a special box for keepsakes,
making it unique to them.
You can also play a matching game to help children express
their feelings. Fill a sheet with certain statements that lets them say how
they feel.
Contact Us For more information about how you can talk to a child about
death, contact C R Low Funeral Directors in Selkirk. Call us on 01750 21259 . Alternatively, you can fill out our
online contact
form and we will be in touch.