The loss of a pet or family member may pique a child’s curiosity about death and its implications. Often, adults struggle to come up with a response to their questions about the end of life. This is something the team at Leo M. Bean And Sons Funeral Home can help you with. Below, the Rochester, NY, funeral home discusses how to answer common queries children have about death.

Funeral Home Answers Children’s Questions About Death

What Is Death?

Death is typically an abstract concept for children, but you can simplify it to meet their level of comprehension. The key is to answer the question as honestly as possible. Use fallen leaves or flowers as examples to explain that everything has a life span. Death happens when the body of a person or animal doesn't work any longer and they stop breathing.

Will They Still Be Able to See the Deceased Person or Pet?

You can take help from your faith to respond to this question. Tell them while the dead individual won’t be around anymore, they will still be watching from the sky or heaven. Another option is to take them visiting the person’s final resting place to show where they will be from now on.

Was It Their Fault?

A child’s world revolves around themselves, so it’s common for them to think they had something to do with the person’s death. Becoming frustrated with their questions will further reinforce the idea that it was their fault somehow. Be patient, and calmly explain how the person or pet died because of their sickness or old age. No one caused it or could have done anything to stop it.

Why Can’t They Visit the Departed Individual in Heaven?

Grasping the concept of death and its permanence comes to children with age and maturity. While it's not possible to visit heaven, they can always remember their late relative in different ways. You can help your child revisit memories of the person by looking at old photographs or videos of them together.

Death can be a difficult topic to discuss with a child, but these tips from Leo M. Bean And Sons Funeral Home can help simplify it. Serving Rochester for more than 40 years, the funeral home is committed to helping their clients during their difficult time. The funeral directors tailor their solutions to meet your family’s requirements. For further information about their funeral services, call (585) 426-7830 or visit the website.