No one wants to talk about death, especially with children. But when a loved one passes away, it’s important to be open and communicative with your young one about the realities of death. The caring funeral home directors at Middendorf Funeral Home in Northern Kentucky understand the communication barriers that parents confront when explaining death to their children. They are here to share a few tips to help ease your stress and facilitate a meaningful conversation.

How to Talk to Your Children About Death

Be Honest           

When your child sees you in tears or openly displaying your grief, you should be honest when giving an explanation. You can only shelter your child from death for so long, and it will do more harm than good if you lie about what has happened to a friend or family member. Don’t be afraid to use words, like “death” or “died”, instead of saying that the person has “passed” or “gone to sleep.”

Answer Questions

It’s common for children to have a lot of questions, especially when you’re bringing up a topic that is new to them. Be calm and willing to answer as many questions as they have. You don’t have to volunteer answers for questions they haven’t asked, but you should listen until the conversation ends.

Prepare Your Child for the Funeral

In talking about the death of a loved one, the topic of the funeral will come up. If you are planning for your child to attend, then you should prepare them for what they can expect. Explain the purpose and let them know who they will see there. You can also make the funeral home less intimidating by arranging a visit for your child before the date of the funeral.

If a loved one has recently passed away and left you in charge of planning the arrangements, it’s good to have a funeral home you can turn to for helping you through the process. The funeral directors at Middendorf Funeral Home offer their expertise and services to help their clients properly commemorate the memories of their loved ones. Call (859) 341-7800 to schedule a consultation, or visit their website for more information about their full list of services.