How to Talk to Your Child About Death
- katieelder4
- Jan 30, 2020
- 3 min read

Whether if it’s a beloved pet, family member, or celebrity hero, death is inevitable and it can impact us in different ways. This is must true when it comes to children who may have never experienced death before.
Obviously, this is a difficult conversation that no parent ever wants to have. But, speaking to your child about death and being honest with them, will make them feel supported and help them through the grieving process.
Whenever this unfortunately happens, here are some tips that you may want to keep in mind when talking to your child about death.
Be honest and straightforward.
“Tell them the ‘facts’ about the death,” clinical psychologist John Mayer told HuffPost. “Don’t sugarcoat what death is or use ‘baby talk’ with a child. Do not use phrases like, ‘Grammy is sleeping.’ This is an opportune time to teach them about death. Don’t shy away from it.”
Board-certified licensed professional counselor Tammy Lewis Wilborn also adds that you should avoid “cutesy language” and euphemisms. “Children tend to think concretely, not abstractly, so when you use language that’s euphemistic, it can actually be more confusing or frustrating,” she explained.
That may sound harsh or uncomfortable. But, it’s important that your child understands the meaning and permanence of death.
Take it slowly.
“Grief is a process that you cannot go around. You have to go through it. So you need to be OK with the pace of the process,” said Wilborn. “It can take some time for a child to return to his or her normal.”
Additionally, you don’t want to overwhelm your child. Remember, they process information in bits and pieces, like when they’re eating.
"They take a bite, maybe two bites, then put it down," Rosemarie Truglio, a developmental psychologist and senior vice president of education and research at Sesame Workshop, told NPR. "That's probably how they're going to experience death as well. They're gonna take a couple of bites. They're gonna go on with their lives. And then they're gonna come back and they're gonna take a couple more bites."
Be prepared for a variety of responses.
“Realize that however you approach this subject, your child will be upset, and perhaps, even angry at the loss,” says Deborah Serani Psy.D. “Accept your child’s emotional reactions. You will have time to address things again after your child's had time to process the initial trauma.”
The most important thing for you to do is to listen and comfort them, while also normalizing and validating their feelings.
Reassure them.
Death is scary. So, make sure that you reassure your child. Tell them that it had nothing to do with something that they had said or done. Remind them that they are their loved ones are safe, fatal accidents are rare, as are death related to illnesses like the cold or flu. And, explain that death was not a deliberate choice. The exemption is suicide, which may be an opportunity to discuss mental health.
Help them remember or memorialize the person.
Some parents may avoid talking about the person who has died in order to protect their child. If your child does want to talk about them, tell stories and recall happy memories. If they prefer, encourage them to memorialize the person in a creative and healthy way like drawing pictures, journaling, or creating collages.
Let them participate in rituals like funerals or memorial services.
Do not force your child to attend these events if they do not want to. But, if they are interested in attending, prepare them in advance.
“Tell children what they will see, who will be there, how people may be feeling and what they will be doing,” recommends Serani. “For young children, be specific in your descriptions of what the surroundings will look like. For example, describe the casket and clothes and that the body will be posed. Or if it's a memorial service, talk about where the body is, if it's been cremated, in a closed coffin or already buried.”
You may also want to discuss their worries or concerns so that you both can come up with ways for them to cope. And, don’t hold back your emotions. It’s acceptable for your child to see you expressing your own emotions.
Final words of advice.
Death is never an easy topic for your child, let alone yourself. It’s important to allow as much time needed for bereavement, as well as letting you each grieve in your own way.
However, you don’t have to do this completely on your own. There are a number of books, resources, support groups, and therapists that can help you and your child.
Thank you for sharing this—it’s truly needed. If you're as intrigued as I am about solutions blog, I highly recommend checking out my latest blog post. In an age where cybersecurity threats evolve daily, having the right browser protection tools is non-negotiable. Millions of users rely on trusted software like the norton safe web extension and the norton safe search extension to shield their online activities from phishing, malicious sites, and suspicious downloads. At the same time, those who have previously used McAfee often seek reliable tools such as the mcafee webadvisor uninstaller to remove software they no longer need. These extensions and utilities are more than just browser add-ons—they're essential layers of protection and control that help users navigate the internet securely…
It's comforting to know that open and gentle communication can make such a difference in a child's healing process. If you're as intrigued as I am about solutions blog, I highly recommend checking out my latest blog post. When working with Canon printers, encountering technical issues can disrupt your workflow and leave you frustrated, especially if you don't understand the root cause or how to resolve it. Some of the most common issues users face include the canon b200 error, the 5b00 error in canon printer, and the error code 5100 in canon printer. These error codes, while alarming at first glance, can typically be resolved with a systematic approach. The canon b200 error is often linked to hardware or print…
Your tips are incredibly helpful, especially for those who may not know where to begin. If you're as intrigued as I am about solutions blog, I highly recommend checking out my latest blog post. HP printers have long been a staple for home and office use, but even the most reliable devices can face technical issues from time to time. Common concerns include the hp 2700 printer offline problem, hp deskjet 3755 not printing anything issue, and the need for effective hp deskjet 4100 troubleshooting steps. These issues can interrupt productivity, delay important work, and cause frustration among users—especially when they strike unexpectedly. Whether your printer has gone offline without warning, stopped printing altogether, or is showing inconsistent behavior, knowing how to resolve…
I appreciate the reminder that honesty and emotional support are key when helping a child navigate grief. If you're as intrigued as I am about solutions blog, I highly recommend checking out my latest blog post. HP printers are among the most reliable printing devices on the market, but users often run into performance issues that can disrupt their workflow. Common complaints include models like the hp 2700 not printing, deskjet 2700 offline, or even the hp 4100 printer not printing, which can lead to significant delays whether you're printing documents for school, work, or home needs. These issues can be incredibly frustrating, especially when they arise suddenly or in the middle of an urgent task. However, understanding the reasons…
Talking to children about death is never easy, but it's something many parents will face at some point. If you're as intrigued as I am about solutions blog, I highly recommend checking out my latest blog post. When dealing with home or office printing tasks, nothing is more frustrating than unexpected printer errors—especially when models like the hp envy 4520 printer not printing, hp envy 5055 won't print, or the hp envy 5530 printer not printing just won’t respond the way they should. These issues can disrupt productivity, create unnecessary stress, and leave users searching for immediate solutions. Whether it’s a connectivity problem, driver conflict, outdated firmware, or even clogged print heads, these HP Envy models—despite being reliable for many—often encounter…