Any suggestions for how to explain death to a 6-year-old boy?

Question

*I'm looking for suggestions on how to tell a 6-year-old boy about death and dying...

Answer 1

did u kill a 6 year old?

Answer 2

Explain that the human body only has a limited amount of time before it wears out so it is good for us to make the best of the time we have here. Sometimes accidents and disease rob some of our time too early. However the spirit lives on forever and that is the real us. Our spirit lives through a human body here just for a short time as a test. The real life for us comes later after death.

We miss the ones that have passed but we know that we will see them again later and know them better than we ever did as people.

Answer 3

You might go to the library...

My wife, had a book, that told of why Grandma wasnt coming back because she had died...

I dont know where she got it from, (probably a garage sale), but, there are books that will explain it to little kids...

I would sit down with the youngster and explain that some people have to "go away" to heaven to be with JESUS, that JESUS calls everyone, when its time for them to celebrate with HIM!!

If he was a church going member, he would have a rudementary foundation of what you are talking about, if not, then it may be a bit harder to explain that someone has gone away and wont come back.

Especially if its a playmate. But, if the child was sick and your son was aware of it, and if the child suffered a lot, then you could tell your son that he/she will suffer no more, because the child is in a better place, where suffering is not for little children.

Its a good time for him to start going to church to get a good Christian foundation...It builds character and gives them something to look forward to, when they get older...Salvation!

I wish you well..

Jesse

Answer 4

When my Grandma died I was trying to explain death to my then three year old daughter. I told her that Great Grandma's body didn't work anymore and that her soul the part of her that made her alive, the part of her that we all love is alive up in heaven with God. My then 6 year old son stopped me and said mom I think you should let me explain. Curious as to what he would say I said OK, and from the mouth of my six year old this is what I heard......Death is like a toy that needs batteries when the batteries are in it the toy works but if you take the batteries out the toy stops working. Our souls are like batteries they make our bodies work and when we die our souls go to heaven with God and our bodies stop working. In heaven great Grandma gets to be an angel and she is very happy. My three year old happy with this explanation smiled and climbed down from her chair and thanked her brother. My husband and I sat very quiet for a long time thinking about how simple but profound our son's answer to his sister had been. Both attended the wake and the funeral with out any fear of death, and to my surprise My daughter even leaned over and gave Great Grandma a kiss on her fore head.

Good luck I hope this helps, Mary Jo

Answer 5

Wow, what a hard thing to have to do. I'd suggest being honest. If you believe in God and afterlife, you could explain your belief that he has moved on. Be very gentle but honest and I'd tell him that it is part of life. We all are born and we all die. Personally, I think death is total peace. Whether in heaven with God or peacefully sleeping eternally. I would then, try to change the subject so he doesn't dwell on it. Go get an ice cream cone or take him to the park. Get it off his mind. This is my opinion.

Answer 6

Tell them the truth about it. Not like God took him or that he went somewhere far away. Tell them that the condition of the dead is. that they are lifeless and not conscious of anything at all. And not anything like they went to heaven. but that they have hope to be resurrected to a earthly paradise as the Bible promise by God, john 5:28, 29. Revelation 21:4 explains that in the future there will be no more death. Ecclesiastes 9:5,10 condition of the dead defined.

Answer 7

This is never easy. The best way to do it is just sitting him down and talking about how everything that is living has to die sometime. Plants, animals, people. That sometimes people get sick and they die and sometimes they just grow old. And sometimes things happen where it is just that persons time to die and no one really knows why (this is the best way to explain accidents and murder etc to children) If you believe in Heaven this is the time to talk about Heaven and how they are some place else and when we die we will get to see them again but here on Earth we will not.
They will have a lot of questions but it is always best to explain simply and honestly.
Do not tell them grandma went to sleep and will not wake up they will get scared of sleeping!

Answer 8

Your local bookstore probably carries one or two books that tell stories that can start the conversation. One that I know of is about a dragonfly; another is about a grandmother (by Tomie De Paola?). Go and read one or two of those books, and choose one you are comfortable with. Your choice may depend on whether or not religion is a factor in your explanation.

Prepare for a lot of tears--you may have many, and he may not. Remember that an elaborate explanation may confuse more than help. Start with the simple, and let him ask questions to get more information.

We chose to take our boys to the funeral of their great-grandmother. They knew her, but they were not terribly close. We explained what would happen at the funeral home, about visitation, the funeral service, burial, and so on. We took them to visitation, and allowed them to touch her hands. Their reaction was to draw pictures to "send" with her. It provided a slightly (not overly) emotional situation to introduce them to the social rituals of death.

Answer 9

Hi, I am a 33 year father of four. As a child I became a ward of the state at age13 My father died at age five. I can remember my mom saying that he had gone to god's home of spirits. That home is here on earth, in the sky's above. but we can not see those spirits. They only can see us. Because there watching over us. As our protectors. After that I felt like my dad was present anytime I was scared. and it helped. She also said I would see him one day when I entered gods home of spirits. Hope that helps. And Sorry about the death

Answer 10

Depends on if you have a particular faith or not. My only sister (who was 17) died in a car wreck when I was 6, & everyone told me the standard Christian stuff---which is what I believe---but I still didn't fully understand it for some time. The thing that you REALLY need to do is to make sure that the child knows that he had nothing to do w/ it & it wasn't his fault. Children naturally relate everything to themselves at that age, so that is a primary concern. I hope that you do have a faith in which to base your talk---bless you in any event!

Answer 11

It just depends on you chicken, if you think J is strong enough tell the little guy what has happened. It might scare him though...you know he could end up thinking he's gonna die, you dont want to put that in his head. Death is a difficult thing to understand for one so young.
If it were me I would wait until he's older and stronger ! of course others will disagree but thats my opinion.
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