Attending a funeral service is something everyone has to do at one point or another. When a close loved one or family friend passes away, parents may consider bringing their child to the service if they express an interest in going. While pre-teens and teens may be old enough to know what to expect, for younger children, it may be prudent to discuss what the event will entail and prepare using the guide below.

Describe the Atmosphere

If your child has never attended a service before, take the time to talk about what the event will be like. Explain that they’ll likely encounter loved ones who may be displaying a range of emotions, including sadness, but that happy memories may also be exchanged. You can also let your child know what to expect from the atmosphere, explaining whether it will be quiet and somber, bittersweet, or somewhere in between.

Describing the funeral service itself may also help to prepare your child. While a celebration of life memorial tends to be informal, a traditional funeral may encompass scripture readings, prayers, and other religious elements. If your child has attended church before, it may be helpful to draw parallels to that experience. Should the family choose to hold a viewing, be sure to let your child know that the body will be present.

Explain What’s Expected of Them

Giving your child an overview of what’s expected of them can make the experience less daunting to them. Tell them about the outfit they’ll wear, and be specific about the behavior you expect from them. For example, if they’ll be invited to engage in religious rituals, let them know they can follow your lead. You can also discuss how it will be especially important to avoid running, using loud voices, or engaging in other playful behaviors that might normally be accepted around family members. Finally, give your child a simple and age-appropriate statement they can use when encountering the immediate surviving family members of the person who has passed so they don’t feel anxious or underprepared about what to say.

Our compassionate team at Abriola Parkview Funeral Home in Trumbull, CT, understands that funeral services can be challenging for people of all ages. Our family-run funeral home offers resources for parents to help their children understand loss from a child’s perspective, along with strategies to help children cope with grief. Browse through these helpful guides on our website, or call (203) 373-1013 to speak with a director for pre-planning or making arrangements.