Explaining death to a young child
Experts offer tips on how to explain death to young children. Credit: iStock
If she asks whether you will die, or if she will die, reassure her you will be around to tuck her in for a very long time. "Make it light," says Jodi Tafarella-Kunz, also a clinical psychologist with Holtz. Tell her you go to the doctor, eat well and take care of yourself, and emphasize that great- grandma was very, very old, Tafarella-Kunz says.
If you talk about heaven, be consistent with your religious beliefs so your explanation comes across as authentic, both psychologists say. Tell your child that our bodies can't go to heaven, but that you and she can "visit" great- grandma through photos and memories, and do so with her.
"A lot of people have a lot of issues dealing with children and death," Jason says. "Dealing with it directly demystifies it."
The psychologists suggest reading the book "The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages" with children to help them understand.
