How do you explain to a child that somebody just died? Say from age 8 or 9 and under.?

Question

When my grandfather died a few years ago, I was 14. My neice was only 4. How do you explain something like that to a child so small without it coming out to harsh but still getting the point across?

Answer 1

HOW TO SAY IT:
Be direct but sensitive. Let your nonverbal language convey that your child's response matters to you. "I have very sad news. Grandpa died this morning."

If the children have questions, answer then honestly. Details that are frightnening or grisly should be left out. "Remember that Grandpa had heart surgery? Well, he developed an infection called pneumonia. Pneumonia can usually be treated but Grandpa was so weak the medicines didn't work and he died."

Children will worry about your safety and possibly their own. If a child asks wether he will die or whether you are going to die, it's okay to reassure her that you will live a long time and she will, too. "Everybody dies someday. But most people live to be very old. By the time I die you will be grown up abd living in your house with your own children."

Some children will be overprotective of you. They may worry when you are sick with a cold or when you are driving in bad weather. Make EMPATHIC comments and then reassure them that you are taking proper care of yourself. "You sound worried that I might die just as daddy did. Those are scary thoughts. But you and your brothers are the most important things in my life, so you need to know that I take very good care of myself and always drive with my seatbelt on and very carefully."

There are some tips
I typed them all out!:D

Answer 2

Heart disease – 2,266,789 deaths since 1973 Cancer – 1,638,350 Accidents – 370,723 AIDS – 203,695 Violent crimes – 306,313 One possibility is overlooked. It happens 1,452 times a day. It has taken over 13 million Black lives within the last 30 years. It has taken 1/3 of our present population. What is it? ABORTION!" Thirty-one years ago, Gianna Jessen's mom aborted her. After being burned alive for about 18 hours by the saline solution, Gianna was delivered alive in a Los Angeles County abortion clinic. She weighed just 2 pounds at birth, and doctors said she would never crawl or walk. Today, Gianna walks with a slight limp and runs marathons. She's also taking on Sen. Barack Obama on abortion. She recently visited Focus on the Family: 1. We know so much of your story from the very early part of your life, but what have you been doing recently? "I ran the Boston Marathon and the London Marathon. Its kind of adventurous for a girl with CP (cerebral palsy). Also, I've had the honor of meeting the president and speaking before Congress. And I've just returned from Australia, where I was speaking in the Parliament and House. Every year that I think (God) must be finished, He seems to open up the doors wider. My life is so much bigger than just an issue. I'm not consumed by the abortion issue, which I think is healthy. I have a beautiful life". "It has been an honor to fight for the most vulnerable among us and for the true empowerment of women and men around the world. When people are exposed to the facts, (they) cannot help (but) be changed. Either they become harder, or they change in favor of life. And I find that the latter is mostly true, and that is so beautiful to me especially with young people. They are very pro-life these days. I think because they see the result in our culture of not valuing life on so many levels". God created all life; only He has he right to take it. If the United States had not Murdered (aborted) 53 million children Social Security would not be in financial trouble.. Most of the kids would be adults and be working and paying into the system. The number of Couples wanting to adopt is roughly equal to the number of abotions. The real reason the government won't close the southern border of the U.S. is that we need these workers to replace the workers we aborted. The Constitution of the United States guarantees "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness". For the unborn, too. They are American citizens. Any nation that sanctions the death of its littlest and most helpless citizens cannot expect the blessing of God. A woman has the right over her own body, but the baby has the right to his/her body. If you are alive and can read this, you are a hypocrite because your mother chose life, not death. Where are the women's rights people? Half of those babies are female.. More than one-third of the abortions in America kill black babies in the womb. Margaret Sanger founded Planned Parenthood to decrease the black population. Abortion is legal, government sanctioned murder.

Answer 3

First thing is you do not need to explain it to her her mom or her grandmother should do that. They will know the right words when the time comes. If they are religious there should be something about him going with the angels and that she will not be seeing him anymore. If they are not religious I just don't know because the thought of him just being dead will be hard for a 4 year old to deal with. She needs to know he is happy somewhere else and not to be sad for him and that he is still watching her and is proud of her

Answer 4

Do try to tell them as little as possible. She doesn't need all the information and can't deal at that age. If you tell her too much, it will hurt more then help.

You haven't given me enough information for a correct answer.

Answer 5

The best way is to tell them that they went home to God. They are up in heaven with God and the angels watching over them as they grow, and even though that they are not here on earth with them, they will always be with them in their hearts.

Answer 6

something that helped my daughter was the movie "the lion king" because it explains the circle of life. it is a part of life. but kids are resilient. it may hurt... but they will have to experience it sooner or later. and yea... as little of details as possilbe... answer their questions, unless the answers are grown up answers. good luck!

Answer 7

honesty my grammy passed 2 years ago and my kids are 7-16 now i just let them know she was with god in heaven a nice place and she was not sick anymore and she gets to hang out with all the other people and family in heaven grandpa --pets... i just hope when i get to heaven it is as nice as i pray it is.. all in all honesty... it is hard.....good luck

Answer 8

The person that died went to go live with God, God is going to take good care of this person.

Answer 9

well i went threw this a couple years back with my father in law who passed and my childeren who were small and the way i handled it was i set them down and told them that there papaw went to heaven to be with his mommy and daddy and jesus and that they will never see him again while they are here on the earth and that one day we would see him and his mommy and daddy in heaven and i explained how long there papaw was on earth with out his mommy and daddy and that he missed them so much and we had to share him with them and they seemed ok with that

Answer 10

Just ell them that they have gone to be with the angels as long as you keep it simple they will get it. Just answer there question and be there to comfort them. Good luck!