Life Lessons About Death- How To Teach Them To Your Child
The pandemic has made death all the more real for everyone today, as millions of Americans died during the last year, and the numbers are still growing. Families have lost their loved ones, and young children are coming face to face with the reality. Hospitals are full, funeral homes are brimming, and television news is all about casualties, so it may just be the time to teach your kids life lessons about death. It isn’t going to be easy, but kids are often stronger than parents imagine. If you are struggling with the idea of teaching them this crucial lesson, here are some tips to help.
Be honest and clear
Describing death to a child is the toughest part of the conversation. The younger the child, the more challenging it will be to explain. You need to be honest with them and explain that their loved one will never come back. Being clear with your message can make all the difference to how they understand the situation. Give them concrete examples, such as dying means that your body stops working, you don’t eat, breathe or move, and you never come back.
Show your vulnerability
If you believe that being strong is the best thing you can do for your child at this point, it isn’t. Show your vulnerability because it indicates that it is alright to feel the pain and sorrow. When the child sees you going through the same emotions that they feel at the loss of a loved one, it gets easier for them to understand. Just be human and let them see your tears.
Give them a choice to be at the funeral
Most American parents prefer to keep young children sheltered from the grief by not taking them to the funeral. However, it is a choice that you should let them make. Explain what they can expect to see as they wish the final goodbye to the deceased. Make sure that it is a beautiful occasion, like a celebration of life rather than the mourning of the death of their loved one. Those living in LA can find a mortuary in los angeles that takes care of the arrangements. Ensure that they arrange the kind of funeral you want and be there with the child throughout the event.
Keep the hope alive
While death may be a hard reality for a child, let them know that hope still lives. The kid may feel lost and lonely if they were close to the deceased, so it becomes all the more vital to be there for them. Take them out, talk to them and spend time with them. Look for signs of stress and depression because they indicate that the child needs counseling and support. Go the extra mile to make life as normal as possible.
Death is a part of life, and children have to deal with it when they lose someone they love. As a parent, you have to stand by them and help them navigate the challenging phase with your love and support.