How to Speak with a Child About a Death
Hope in the Midst of Grief
March 1, 2021
Planning a Service Out of Town
March 8, 2021
It can be very difficult to let people know about a death that has happened. This is even more complicated if you have children, since you want to be sure to let them know what has happened. If that is something that you are worried about and you do not know how to best have this kind of conversation, there are some tips that can help. Here are the things that directors of funeral homes in Dale City, VA want you to keep in mind.
You need to be honest when you have this conversation. Many times, people try to soften the truth of the death and this can be an error. You may be tempted to use euphemisms, like “passed away”, but that is not a good idea. You do not want to confuse your child and that can happen if you do not use the right language. Take the time to think about this carefully so that there is no confusion.
Another thing to remember is that your child will likely ask a number of questions. This is also important to answer honestly. You want to let the child ask what they want to know. Keep in mind that you may not know all of the answers to the questions they have. If that is the case, you want to let your child know that you will do your best to find the answer.
Children do not know if they are alone with what they are feeling or not. You can put them at ease by letting them know that you are feeling the same things they are. Show them that you are also grieving so that they feel comfortable with expressing what they are going through.
You also want to involve the child in the funerary services that are planned. Let them know what the services will be like and ask them if they want to be involved. Many children do want to be able to attend and that can be a healthy way of getting closure. Be sure not to force the child to do this, since it can cause more harm than good.
Letting your child know that someone they love has died is something that can really be tough to do, but with these suggestions you can have a bit of an easier time of it. You want to be honest and clear in your language so that you do not end up confusing your child. It is crucial to also let them ask questions and to make sure that they know what to expect from the services that are planned. If you want to know more about this process, you can reach out to a Dale City, VA funeral home like us at Morrissett Funeral and Cremation Service. We are here to help you with all of the questions you may have when letting your child know of a death. Give us a call right now.
