How do you explain a death to kids?

Question

They are 4 and 6 and their Grandma just passed away. I haven't told them yet and I don't know how. We are not religious so I won't be mentioning anything about heaven or anything else religious. What about the funeral? I'm concerned about them not sitting still and making noise. I remember a wedding where a kid started throwing a temper tantrum and I don't want that to happen.

Answer 1

The best solution is to read them books that explain about death and funerals. I always find that books help with many difficult situations.
Here are some good ones that I found on amazon:

Honoring our Loved Ones: Going to a Funeral (Paperback)
by Karen L. Carney
http://www.amazon.com/Honoring-our-Loved-Ones-Funeral/dp/0966782011/sr=1-10/qid=1170228681/ref=sr_1_10/104-0184568-6203142?ie=UTF8&s=books

What Is Death (Paperback)
by Etan Boritzer
http://www.amazon.com/What-Death-Etan-Boritzer/dp/0963759752/sr=1-4/qid=1170228860/ref=sr_1_4/104-0184568-6203142?ie=UTF8&s=books

Grandma's Gone to Live in the Stars (Concept Books (Albert Whitman)) (Library Binding)
by Max Haynes
http://www.amazon.com/Grandmas-Stars-Concept-Albert-Whitman/dp/0807530263/sr=1-1/qid=1170228915/ref=sr_1_1/104-0184568-6203142?ie=UTF8&s=books

Let's Talk about Going to a Funeral
by Marianne Johnston,
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780823950386&itm=4

Answer 2

I'm not religious either, but I told my kids that their great-grandmother went to heaven. We had about six deaths in our family in six months (pets included) My oldest daughter was four at the time. I just told her that Great-gram is no longer here and that she lives in heaven. Heaven is a place above the clouds. She can still see us, and she is waiting for us. She understood. My daughter's friends fish just died last week and she told her friend not to worry, because Great-gram will take care of the fish for her. It amazes me what kids understand and remember. I wouldn't take the kids to the funeral, the visiting hours or the reception after would be fine. But a funeral is no place for them, especially at this age. One thing that we do every year is get a hellium balloon and write a note to Great-gram and all the other pets, and family members . We let it go and they watch it float up in the air. It makes them feel better. It breaks my heart everytime we do it, but if they feel better about their deaths, I'll do it.

Answer 3

well there are a few things you should do one take small snacks for them and a coloring book to keep them calm and 2nd the best way to tell them is grandma died because she was sick and it was her time now she will be in a better place it's always better to use god in this because if you read in the bible he talks about going to heaven and hell god is the only person who can tell you what you want to hear ok just sit and think about it ok....

Answer 4

well i would just do this, say something along the lines that she loved them very much, and it was her time, and that even though they may not understand one day, they have to accept it, also explain that they need to be respectful at the funeral, so that everybody can remember her peacefully...something so that they'll understand and be ok with it at the smae time

good luck

and im sorry

fuzzy...

Answer 5

nicely, i dont think of u could get a e book, clarify that dying is whilst somebody existence is finished and that they bypass as much as heaven yet theyre bodies stay right here, and all of us die yet its no longer something to be scrared of. in the event that they're too youthful dont take it to distinctly or too some distance. in case you supply them a e book its cause them to scared. take an occasion from a caricature they like or something. in the event that they're youthful than 5 dont be too rash

Answer 6

Tell them the truth. Tell that their grandmother is dead.Tell them their grandmother will be laying in a box and will go into the ground.