How would you dicuss death to a child?

Question

discuss*

Answer 1

I would do it very carefully because kids can get some funny idea from the way adults put things - they are very literal and take what you say at face value.

If you have a larger bookstore in your area they should have some really good books for talking to kids of all ages about death be it of a pet or a family member.

Whatever you do, leave plenty of time for the child to ask questions and answer their questions simply.

Answer 2

Well I married my exboyfriend, but that is different. I was the jerk, not him. The only problem here is that you really don't know if he still disrespects women. that is pretty serious if you think about it. Your son will learn how to treat people by watching his parents. The other issue here is that he is currently involved with a woman. You don't know if he is just looking at the other side of the fence and seeing how green it is. It sounds like this guy has a hard time sticking to anything he starts. It woul dbe nice if he could finish what he started with you, but I wouldn't count on it. In addition to the current relationship, you don't know why that relationship is failing in actuality. Discuss this with your counselor. They won't tell you what to do but they can help work out this situation. Look at his current situation and see how different it is from when you divorced. If it has changed dramatically then it may be beneficial.

Answer 3

Depending on your beliefs and your childs age....

If your a believer in God you could say depending on the childs age say younger that that person has gone to heaven to be with God and that someday we all will be there with that person. Between now and then we should keep that persons memory alive by remembering the good times we had together.

However if this is not your child or a child you have under your direct care fulltime i would leave this discussion up to that parent or guardian as its none of your business!!!

Answer 4

I would do it as a comparison to birth. Death is merely a departure from this realm to the spiritual realm. The person continues to exist, just not here in a body. Just the very same way they existed before birth.

I would not make a child afraid of death, but I would teach them to reverence and respect it. It is a very emotional time and reverence is required when speaking about death or being in the presence of death, when your loved one passes. It is a moment of great relief and peace for many who die. After death, the family must take the time to honor and respect the memory of their loved one.

That is what I taught my children.

Answer 5

As a natural part of life. How else? How would describe eating, or sleeping, or anything that is part of being human? If you think you need to protect you child against reality, that says more about you than it does anything else.

Answer 6

Honestly and slowly.

I know because when I was 7, my mother died, and my stepfather told me that she was gone.

For two whole years, every day I would stay near the window and look for her to come home, til one day at school a kid asked me what it was like to have a dead mom, and they explained to me she was dead and not coming back.

However you tell the child, be gentle about it...

- 16 yo Pagan

Answer 7

how old is the child? i think the best way to discuss it is to put it in terms they know, relate it to real life though, else they will go out thinking death is a fairy tail.

Answer 8

I got the two explanations from my parents (and one twisted one from my baby-sitter) (oooo Disney's "The Lion King" also did a OK job):

1. Religious, detailed, that was a bit too sophisticated for me like: "Death is the end of earthly life, Death is a consequence of sin, and Death is transformed by Christ". I would get more detail, until they saw I was about to go to sleep and then they'd re-grab my interest with butterfly's (I think dragon fly's work for boys)

2. You're body is like a Caterpillar. We live in it -- function in it --and when we die, we shed the body but the soul remains in a cocoon changing until Jesus lets us out to fly around in our new perfect butterfly bodies --- but we only get the cool butterfly bodies if we behave, spread God's love, and try to fulfil God's plan while we're caterpillar's --- very magical --- fits/ answers lots of life questions too !!!

3. From my babysitter (a very bad influence, but fun):


Did you ever think - when a Hearse goes by - that you may be the next to die? They wrap you up in bloody sheets, and throw you down about six feet. -- The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, the worms play penucal on your snout. -- The big black bugs, with big green eyes, crawl in your nose and out your eyes. -- Your stomach turns a gasping green and puss comes out like whipping cream. -- You spead it on a piece of bread and sit there eating it while you're dead. -- Your hair turns gray, your teeth decay, and that's the end of a perfect day!!!

4. Disney movie, "The Lion King" --- Circle of Life.

Answer 9

Tell them the truth but make it age appropriate.

Answer 10

It depends how old is the kid. But I think you should be honest to them even though their kids.