Telling your loved ones that a family member is terminally ill is challenging, and delivering the news to a child is no different. While you might not want to tell your kids that a beloved relative is in hospice care, avoiding the conversation can confuse and frighten them. Below are a few strategies for discussing this situation with kids.

How to Talk About Death With Your Children

1. Avoid Euphemisms

Using softer language like “going to sleep” might seem age-appropriate, but it can give children the wrong impression. Kids are literal, so they may not fully understand what you mean. As challenging as it may be, sticking to straightforward words like “dying” and “death” will reduce confusion. This will help your children cope with the difficult situation.

2. Tell Them Slowly

For teenagers and adults, long conversations are helpful for processing emotions and coming to terms with bad news. However, young kids often have shorter attention spans, and many can’t process all of the information at once.

For children that are under 10 years old, consider telling them over the course of a week or two. This will allow you to approach the topic slowly so that your child can grasp the information fully.

3. Have Someone With You

Bringing another person your child trusts to take part in the conversation can make it easier for everyone involved. For example, have your spouse join you when discussing the topic. You can let them take the lead if the talk gets overwhelming, and your kids will know that they have many people to talk to about their emotions.

4. Be Honest

Children will undoubtedly have questions, so you should prepare to answer them honestly. For instance, if your relative is entering hospice care, make sure your kids understand that the loved one is unlikely to recover. Before starting the conversation, prepare age-appropriate explanations for your family member’s illness, how much time they have, and other challenging questions.

If you have a terminally ill loved one who needs compassionate in-home care, contact Advantage Home Health & Hospice. They have been providing hospice care to patients throughout Poteau, OK, for over 50 years. They understand the difficulties of this experience, and will give your family the resources and support you need. Visit the website to learn more about their services.Call (918) 647-0653 to speak with a team member about your needs.