Even though it never seems like a good time to talk about death with children, this is an important conversation to have. Death is a natural part of life and it can happen at any moment. If you have suffered from the loss of a loved one, you may be wondering how to discuss this with your kids. At Baldwin Brothers Funeral & Cremation Society, we hope to provide education and resources about the cremation and funeral planning process. Learn more by contacting a member of our compassionate staff in Florida.
Prepare for the discussion
It is understandable that you feel uncomfortable talking about death with your children. In fact, many people choose to ignore the topic for as long as possible. This is because most parents hope to shield their young ones from the more difficult parts of life. The truth is that there is no easy way to discuss death with any individual. It is essential to approach this topic in a compassionate way.
Sometimes, children see death in tv shows or movies. As they grow, they may become more aware and have questions about what they see. Adults should already have a plan in place to address these concerns and help them cope. Your goal should be to find a gentle but direct way of approaching the subject. Then, when someone they know passes away, they are better prepared to deal with their feelings.
Listen to their feelings
Children have the ability to pick up nonverbal cues from the adults in their life. They understand when others are stressed out, sad, or even angry. The way that children deal with death may be based on what they have observed from you or others. When the time comes, find little ways to make the discussion more comfortable. Provide them with truthful explanations, give answers that are simple enough for them to understand, and pay attention to their feelings.
If you are cremating a family member, they may have additional questions about the process. However, try not to overwhelm them with concepts they can’t understand yet. You can use real-life examples that will enable them to understand death and the cremation process better.
Continue the conversation
When children are free to discuss grief with their parents, they may continue to ask questions in the future. Adults should encourage kids to keep the dialogue open if this happens. Parents and children can use the issues to build a stronger bond together. And by providing a supportive and nurturing environment to discuss topics like death and cremation, you allow them to process loss in a healthy way.
Baldwin Brothers Funeral & Cremation Society is proud to provide these resources and more to make the funeral planning process as simple as possible. With our convenient funeral locations across Florida, you can complete the planning online. You may also call us and we can walk you through the process ourselves. Contact us today – Baldwin Brothers hopes to meet your needs to the best of our ability.