how do you explain death to a 5 year old ?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtZxzd50KHKTuuvb2lKnrFHsy6IX?qid=20070703043033AAcZf4i this link is how i tried and then i wondered have i done it right ? i cant lie to him but i can hide things by giving other simpler answers , can you help me with this link to my previous question about it , theres more explanation there , 2 minutes of your time to help us for a lifetime ,,,,,,, please , before i keep kiking myself about it forever ;)

Answer 1

I have a 6 year old. . .so I understand how difficult this is. My son asked me the other day, "Mom, if you go to heaven before me will you wait on me at the door?". . .wow. Children are such gifts.

I have explained the best that I can that although death is sad and although we will miss the person here on earth. . .that death is not the end. I am a Christian and I explain death based upon my beliefs.

Children sometimes only need the short simple answer and sometimes they need something deeper, they are smarter than we think they are.

I try to learn and grow in my own way of thinking and believing each day so that I can answer my children's questions and know that I am answering them the best I can.

Answer 2

None of us truly understand death because we have never been there.

At the best death is discribed in earthly terms. Earthly things for the most part are all we know.

The Bible tells us some things about heaven, but not a whole lot. Mainly what it says people in heaven do is rejoice, sing and praise and worship God!

When a child asks you about death, many times it is OK to just say "I don't know". You can follow this up with "...but I think..."

As for angels, the Bible never tells us that angels are the spirits of those who have previously lived on earth. Angels, as I understand, are a spiritual being and have never been human. (The word "angel" in the Bible comes from a Greek word that simply means "mesanger".)

Don't kick yourself. Sometimes when there are questions, we just have to answer as best as we can!

Study the scriptures. They will tell us all we need to know! (Not everything we may like to know, but all we need!)

Answer 3

In all seriousness - The movie "Short Circuit" (80's flick about a robot, #5, who through an electrical storm becomes 'alive' and has reactions/emotions etc).
There is a scene where he is hopping around and lands on a grasshopper. He then asks his human friend to just "re-assemble" the grasshopper. The woman has to explain to him that the grasshopper is dead, etc etc....
I only suggest this because maybe at least to a five year old this type of scenerio (scifi type movie) might "click".

I'm not sure if this really answers your question.. but maybe it will help.

Answer 4

I would simply tell him that human bodies are like machines. They last a long time, but eventually they wear out. Parts stop functioning, and eventually repairs are no longer possible. When that happens, the body ceases to function. That will be a real downer for him, as it is for anyone, so then you can take the opportunity to tell him about Jesus, who died so that he could be resurrected. The details about who the angels are, what heaven is, who God is, and so on are up to you to tell him according to your own beliefs. My version of heaven is actually a restored paradise Earth, like the garden of Eden. A few people will go to Heaven to rule and reign with Christ, but we can't all be ruling and reigning in heaven. The "great crowd" of people from all nations that believed on Christ for their salvation go to the restored paradise Earth to live eternal life without sickness, death, disease, or hunger. That gives me a lot more hope than imagining floating on a cloud strumming a harp for all eternity.

Answer 5

Death Record Search Database : http://www.DeathRecordInfo.com/Info

Answer 6

I could not do that without my faith playing a vital role.

I lost someone very dear to me at 5. It was hard to cope with. The only thing I understood that helped was to recognize that the faith of that person was strong, they trusted God and they were now with him.

The why part is too much for a 5 year old, in my opinion. They will ask; I think it's okay to say you don't know.

Answer 7

To help this illusion that 'death does not exist' along does no good to anyone. You can explain to the 5 yr old that this person is simply gone now. Later when he or she is old enough to grasp concepts like death, the explanation will make more sense.

Answer 8

You explained it just fine. My 3 year old nephew was born after our father passed away. HE tells us, "papa's in heaven now, way up in the sky, but he visits me". This began without prompting.

Answer 9

you tell him that when people get sick or really old . they want to have a vacation in the sky and there not coming back. that how you explain death to a 5 year old .

Answer 10

well tell your little boy or girl that sparky your pet turtle is not going to a better place and that because you did not feed it properly and beat it with a stick that it will never tickle his or her little hand again and that they will never see it again!!!! or u can b honest and say hey that thing klicked the bucket or craped the bead and is no longer with us today but we loved it very much and it is in jesusis hand!!!! and tell ur little 5 year old not to worry cuz it will die to in like 800 years