Losing a loved one can be difficult, no matter what age you are. However, it is especially challenging for a child, who may not fully grasp the event. For parents, talking to their child about the loss of a family member or other loved one may feel daunting.

Before visiting a funeral home, here’s how you can prepare your children for the loss of a loved one:

• Utilize Support Systems: Your children shouldn’t go through the grieving experience alone. As a parent, familiarize yourself with the support systems at your child's disposal, including extended family, school counselors, and local programs for grieving families. While your child may at first be hesitant to discuss their feelings, this gives them ample opportunities to find someone they trust and feel comfortable with. 
• Give Them a Chance to Communicate: Children sometimes struggle to find their footing in situations where they are infantilized. Instead of assuming they don't understand what's happening, give them a chance to articulate their comprehension of the events unfolding around them. This has many benefits; it strengthens the trust between you and your child, gives them a chance to participate in the grieving process, and helps enhance their confidence in painful, sometimes tense, situations. 
• Tell Them Ahead of Time: There is no advantage to waiting to talk to children about an ill person who may eventually pass away. Putting such an important conversation off can create confusion and damage trust. Telling them ahead of time, on the other hand, gives them a chance to process the information, express themselves, and better understand how the grieving process will affect them. 

Frederick Funeral Home has been providing tasteful, compassionate funerals for grieving families in the Greater Cincinnati, OH, area since 1932. The family-owned and -operated funeral home, now in its fourth generation, has the expertise to handle every aspect of preparation, including burial, cremation arrangements, and other details. Visit the funeral home's website to learn more about planning options, or call the professional staff directly at (513) 522-3700.