When someone in your child’s life passes away, you’re faced with an important decision: Should your child attend the funeral and/or memorial service? To help you make the best choice for your family, here’s what you should know about children attending funerals. 

Should Your Child Attend a Funeral?

Some children benefit greatly from attending funerals; just like adults, many kids find that funerals and memorial services help the grieving process. For other children, though, the experience may be negative. While it’s impossible to predict your child’s exact reaction to a funeral, certain factors will help you determine whether they’re ready. First, consider their age:

• Infants & Toddlers: Unless the deceased or grieving family members have specifically requested their presence, infants and toddlers generally shouldn’t attend funerals, as they will be distracting. 
• Preschoolers: Once a child reaches preschool age, they’re less likely to be distracting. Still, if they attend, bring coloring books, snacks, and any other items they need to remain quiet and occupied.
• Elementary School-Aged Children: At this age, most children understand the permanence of death and will react more emotionally to it. Let them decide whether to attend the funeral. To help them make the right decision, clearly explain what they can expect; for instance, describe where each event will take place, how the deceased might appear during a viewing, and the emotional behavior they’ll see from mourners.

Along with age, you should also consider your child’s relationship to the deceased. In general, kids should be given the choice to attend a funeral if the deceased is a parent, sibling, or someone else the child had a strong bond with. 

Which Parts of the Funeral Should Your Child Attend? 

Most funerals consist of multiple events, namely a wake or visitation, a ceremony, and a burial. Your child may want to attend all, none, or some of these events. Some children, even older ones, may find a viewing and burial too upsetting.

If you fear your child is not ready for these events, consider only bringing them to the memorial service. If your child does attend the viewing, do not force them to approach the casket; viewing the body should be the child’s decision. 

If you’ve recently lost a loved one, turn to the compassionate team at Meyer & Geiser Funeral Home in Cincinnati, OH. Family-owned and -operated for five generations, this trusted funeral home helps families say goodbye to their loved ones while honoring and celebrating their lives. In addition to funerals and memorial services, they provide cremation services, burial services, and pre-arrangement planning. View their grief support resources online, and call (513) 921-4144 to discuss your family’s needs with a caring team member.