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Explain Death To A Child

Human children rarely understand the concept of death very well. As a parent how do you go about explaining the concept of death to your little ones when a loved one passes away?

Child To Death Explain

My grandson lost one of his great-grandmothers about a year ago. I told him she was with Heavenly Father now and that one day he would see her again. Every now and again he will still mention her and how he misses her.

I think how you explain this to a child depends a lot upon your religious beliefs. If you don't have any, I can't imagine what you say to a young child that would offer any comfort.

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I would explain that the loved one is in Heaven with Heavenly Father, I would not say "She/He is dead" but instead they went to another place and that they are very much alive and like Tena said, one day we will see her/him again.

Child To Death Explain

My middle daughter was almost 3 years old when my father-in-law died (while visiting us). My wife explained it to her by saying that the body is like a glove for the spirit, that although the spirit had left the body, so that it was lieing there empty, the spirit was very much alive and living with Heavenly Father.

My daughter still remembers that lesson, 14 years later.

Child To Death Explain

I agree that how you handle things at the early stage of a childs life carries through with them for the rest of their lives.

My Daughter was very upset when her great-grandma died recently, I explained to her that at 106, she was ready to go and live in heaven, and that great-grandma wouldn't be sad at all about it, and my Daughter accepted this. She likes to talk about her often, and I don't feel that this should be discouraged, as I believe that it's important to feel that you can talk about a loved one without upsetting anybody, it's all part of the grieving process in my opinion.