a website to help parents talk with their children about potentially sensitive topics:
Birth, Death, and Fantastical Beings
What could I discuss with my child?
I understand that my child needs my help to understand death, but I am nervous about having these conversations!
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Studies have shown that parents often struggle to talk with their children about death because their own levels of emotions about this topic are very high.
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Parents tend to believe that children who are younger are not capable of fully understanding all of the components of death
correctly.
Parents often underestimate how much their children are able to understand about death, which causes them to delay these
conversations.
Research states that the most important thing to remember is to speak honestly with children about death, so your child is not left with confusion or incorrect ideas.
Children rely on their parents to learn about the world around them.
This woman is a mortician and offers great tips about how talk about death with your child!
Here's her advice!
1. Ask your child questions to find out how much he/she already knows.
2. Respond with simple, honest answers to their thoughts and questions.
3. Check in with their feelings and remind them that their feelings are okay!
4. Ask your child if he/she has any questions, even if they have not asked! Don't assume they are not curious just because they have not asked yet.
5. Tell your child if you don't know the answer to their questions. There are certain parts about death that even parents don't understand, and that is okay.
Talk with your children!