Telling a child someone has died may be the hardest thing you ever do. Whether it be a family pet, a grandparent or other loved one, the conversation is not going to be an easy one. But a natural part of life is learning to experience death, and every child at some point will face bereavement.
While it’s impossible to shelter children from the loss of a loved one, there are ways in which you help children cope and grieve.
How do children understand death?
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- Under 6 months:
At this age, babies will have no understanding of death but may notice if their main caregiver is absent.
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- 6 months to 2 years:
At this age, children still won’t have any understanding of death, but they will be very upset if their main caregiver is absent. At around 2, children start to notice the absence of other people, for example, a grandparent.
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- 2 to 5 years:
Children may talk about death but not understand it and think it’s temporary and reversible.
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- 5 to 10 years:
At age 7 (although some children may take longer than this), most children understand that death is permanent and inevitable. They are aware of death and may be able to feel sympathy for someone who’s been bereaved.
