Tips for Talking to Your Kids About a Loved One’s Death

There are many adults who have a really difficult time processing the loss of a loved one. Even after they see that person in a casket at a Hiram, GA funeral home, they can’t wrap their heads around what has occurred. They simply don’t want to believe that their loved one has passed away.  

If adults struggle that much with death, you can only imagine what kids go through. They often don’t know what to think when they’re told about the death of a grandparent or another close family member. Here are a few tips that will help you talk to your kids about death effectively.  

Be direct when informing your child about a death. 

When it comes time to tell a child that their grandfather, aunt, or other family member has died, you might be tempted to beat around the bush. This won’t help anyone. Instead, be as direct as you can be without going overboard with your explanation. You’re better off saying, “I just learned some sad news, your grandfather died last night,” than spending five minutes talking around what happened in an effort to protect your child’s emotions.  

Prepare to listen to your child and provide comfort. 

Once you’ve told your child about the death that took place, open up the floor to them and allow them to speak with you about it. All kids respond a little bit differently to death. That means they might start firing questions at you or they might just need you to hug them tight while they cry. Either way, you should be prepared to spring right into action and provide your child with support.  

Ask your child to express how they’re feeling. 

In the event that your child doesn’t express clear emotions after you talk to them about a death, ask them to tell you how they’re feeling and what’s going through their mind. They might be confused and unsure of how they should feel. Help them work through their emotions until they’re able to clearly state what they think of the information they just learned. It’ll be much better than them keeping their feelings trapped inside.  

Talk to your child about what to expect during funeral services. 

After your child comes to terms with the death, walk them through what the upcoming funeral services are going to be like. If your loved one chose a cremation in Hiram, GA over a burial, that could spark up a whole new line of questions from your child. Make sure they are prepared for the funeral services and what they could hold in the coming days.  

At Davis-Struempf Funeral Home & Crematory, we know how hard death can be on everyone. We strive to make life a little easier on grieving families by helping them make funeral arrangements in Hiram, GA quickly. Give us a call at (770) 944-2900 if you would like to hear about our funeral services or come meet with a funeral director at 1975 E West Connector, Austell, GA 30106.