Losing a loved one is an emotional, painful ordeal. For generations, people have used funeral services to cope with their grief, celebrate the lives of their deceased loved ones, and say final goodbyes. For parents, the decision to bring their child to the ceremony can be a tough choice to make. Below are three factors to help you determine if your child should attend a funeral.

3 Factors That Decide if Your Child Should Go to a Funeral Service

1. Age

Children in elementary school may experience grief, so they should have an opportunity to mourn along with their family. Older children also can understand the finality of death, which makes it more likely they will quietly observe the ceremony without disturbing other attendees. However, babies and toddlers can be highly active and require a lot of attention. It might be better to excuse infants from attending funeral services unless their presence was requested. 

2. Relation to the Deceased

Familial ties often play a part in the decision to let a child attend a funeral. For instance, if the little one is the son or daughter of the departed, it’s acceptable for them to participate in the service, regardless of age. It may also be appropriate for the child to go if they had a strong bond with the decedent. Their attendance can give the child and mourning family a sense of closure, beginning the healing process. 

3. Type of Service

Though you may want your child to attend a funeral, there might be other parts of the ceremony to consider allowing them to sit out. For instance, some religions call for a viewing of the body during the service. This experience may be too traumatic for little ones, especially if they’ve never seen a dead person. The lowering of the casket may also be too emotional for them. Young children are also curious and may distractingly interact or even misbehave.

Depending upon the formality or tone of the ceremony and the relationship to the deceased, this could be acceptable or inappropriate. It is best to consider the individual behaviors of your children and to reflect upon the parts to bring them to. While they may attend the service at the funeral home or church, you may want to them to skip the burial. 

For more than 30 years, the compassionate staff at Stine-Kilburn Funeral Home of Lebanon, OH, has helped families throughout Warren County and the surrounding areas celebrate the lives of their loved ones. They work with each client to play beautiful commemorative services that honor the departed, including memorial, cremation, and funeral services. Their staff are available 24 hours a day and will answer any question you have. To learn more about their services, call (513) 932-1239 or visit them online today.