Speaking About Death with a Child

After the death of a loved one, you want to be sure to let your family know. This can include your child. Speaking about death with a child is not an easy thing to do and you may not be sure of how to tackle this kind of conversation. If that is something that you are worried about and want to be sure that the conversation goes as smoothly as possible, there are some things that directors of funeral homes in Brookfield, IL want you to remember.

The first thing that you want to remember is that your child needs to hear the truth in a clear language. Sometimes, parents think that they can soften the news by using euphemisms, but that is something that can end up confusing your child and that is not what you want. Be honest and use words that do not leave any ambiguity.

Another thing to remember is that you want to encourage your child to ask questions. Children always have questions about death and knowing that a loved one has died will only increase them. You want to be as clear about the answer to these questions as possible, so that there is no confusion. If you do not know the answer to a particular question, you want to let your child know that you will do your best to find the answer for them.

Tell your child what you are also going through and that you are feeling the same grief they are. This is something that can be important. Your child may be afraid of telling you what they are feeling because they do not want to upset you. By sharing what you are feeling, you can let the child know that they can share with you what they are going through, as well.

If your child is old enough, you want to give them the choice of attending the service of their loved one. This is something that not all children will want to do, but it can be helpful with the healing process. Do remember that you never want to force a child to attend if they do not want to and that you do not want to forbid them to go, either. Keep that in mind and give them the choice.

As you start thinking about how to have a conversation about the death of a loved one with your child, you want to remember all of these things. It can be tough to know what to say, so do take the time to consider clear language and to avoid using euphemisms like “passed away.” If you want to know more about how to have this conversation, you can reach out to a Brookfield, IL funeral home like us. We are ready to help you with all of the decisions you need to take after the death of a loved one. Call us right now to speak with one of our experts and have the talk of a lifetime or visit our facility.