What is the best way to tell a child that his father died?

Question

The child's father was 29 years old and he passed away, what is the best way to break it to the child before he goes to the funeral?The child is 6 years old.

Answer 1

I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my dad at a similar age. I have to say a direct approach is probably the best thing. Be honest. Take time to answer any questions the child might have. Children seem to accept the concept of heaven easily, so if this meshes with your beliefs, telling the child that his father has gone to heaven to live with God, and that he will get to say goodbye at the funeral, is an easy way to help him understand the funeral process. (If this does not agree with your religious beliefs, please, no offense.)

Whatever you tell him.... hug him and love him, and let him know you're there for him. Good luck with this painful situation.

Answer 2

Well, the child is going to go through a very hard time, he or she will face many problems through out their life. The best way to say it i think, is to make it sound like he is still happy, and still looking down on him from heaven. Use as many personifications as you can and at the same time let him know that he will be seeing him in a long time, but not never again. Give him hope. Hope that they will meet in heaven some day

Answer 3

This is a very sensitive situation. I should know, I lost my father when I was young too. Truly, there is no easy way of breaking the news. The most important thing is telling the truth and letting the child express his or her grief. She/he will need to grieve in their own way although young, the important thing is that that child is allowed to grieve, to talk about it. At that age, it's best to keep your explanation shorts and uncomplicated, but to always let the child know that you are there for them.

Answer 4

I'm so very sorry for yours and your sons loss.
Tell him the truth, tell him that God needed your husband. And that your husband will be looking over you and your son. And when the day comes for your son he can see his father again....
Expect a lot of tears from your son though, I mean he is 6. That's old enough to understand that he's gone and he is never going to come back.......

My lil Sis age of 6 cried a lot when our dog passed 2 months ago, so 6 years old do understand death....but she knew he had to go and that she will see him when she goes.

Good luck, I wish the best for you and your son.

Answer 5

Well concedering the age, there is no best way, Sorry...Just be honest...Most funeral homes have certian things (Like age appropriate books) geared towards children. also...A friend who just went through this decided that her child should not go up to the casket,. The childrens (ages3 and 9) last memorie of their father was of him kissing them good night and saying he loved them...She wanted to leave it that way...not of him in the casket> It is a personal decision. May God Bless You!

Answer 6

Because he is only 6 he won't fully understand death, but i would tell him daddy died and went to heaven and that one day all the family will go there to join him. Just explain that death is something we all will experience one day (only if the child asks). You could also tell him to remember all the good times he and daddy had together if he becomes too emotional ...........good luck

Answer 7

Just tell them what death is in a way that does not sound so bad. Tell them that it is like sleeping with no nightmares or dreams and that they just wont wake up. Then tell them that happened to their daddy.

Answer 8

Tell him that his daddy had to leave on a mission with angels. And add in that his daddy didn't want to leave them, but he would see him again someday.

Answer 9

he is too young to fully understand the concept of dying; tell him god needed an angel and his father is in heaven. good luck!!

Answer 10

The truth. Kid see thru lies and desception. Don't give too many gory details, just the truth.