Helping Children Between Ages 3 and 10 Deal with Death

Loosing someone dear and near to you can be a very difficult thing to cope with. Greif hurts in ways we never knew was possible. Everyone Deals with grief differently, but as adults we have likely had to deal with hardships before. Our skin has become worn to the ways of the world, and perhaps more understanding.

Children on the other hand are innocent; they don't know the horrors that the world has in store for their emotions. This is why it's particularly important to be there with them as they cope with grief. The first time a child may have to deal with grief might be losing a pet. Most likely this is when your child will first ask about death. They might ask questions like why? They may also ask If they themselves will die one day. It can be very difficult explaining to them the complex issue of death.

The thought of death or dying might scare your child. It's the fear of the unknown that children have; similar to what's in the closet or under the bed. While your child is grieving make sure to talk with them often, having them really open up to you about their feelings. The more they are able to talk about them the faster they will make it through the stages of the grieving process.

Always remember that children are especially fragile to the death of a loved one. Many parents try to buy children a "new pet" when there old one dies. I feel that this tactic is simply an attempt to wipe over the grief and mask it behind a new pet. The child needs to understand about death, this is a life lesson that they will take with them. If they get the preconceived idea that when something dies, a new one can just be bought to fix all the problems, the child will not be acclimated to death properly.

Hopefully your guidance as a parent will one day allow them to face the world head on. One day when you are old and frail, they will be teaching their children about grief and loss. The most important piece of advice is to show your child that death is as much a part of life and anything else and that there will be both bad and good times in their life. What's important is that they live it hoping for the best but fearing for the worst.