What can kids understand about death?
The simple answer is probably more that we think they can, provided we put it in terms they can understand. Telling lies, or using religious phrases such as “went home to be with the Lord” may confuse children. Remember that children are concrete thinkers, so anything we say will be taken very literally by them. If we say that their loved one is now home with the Lord, they will think that they have actually packed their bags and moved from their house into Gods house- imagine how hurt and rejected this could make them feel. Better to stick to the facts and say that they died of a heart attack. Kids need to understand that death is a natural part of life- everybody is born, lives and then dies and once we die it is permanent. We should not talk about death being like going to sleep or on a long holiday. So too, kids will need to understand that their pets are living things that die too. What are unhelpful things to say to kids about death? Once again we should stick to the truth, but i
