No parent enjoys having heavy conversations with their children. We want to protect them from the tough stuff in life. Yet, the very act of trying to protect our children from pain can do them more harm in the long run. So how in the world do we approach a topic as big and heavy as death?
As a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) who has worked in pediatric intensive care units and within the community setting, I have spent countless hours sitting with and supporting children and families through the most gut-wrenching experiences in their lives. Families facing devastating car accidents, house fires, medical traumas and deaths are often left in shambles and unsure of how to support the children in their lives through something so big. That’s where I come in.
As a CCLS, I work alongside the caregivers to break the news to the children in a developmentally appropriate and supportive way. I often use play and other therapeutic tools to give children space to process their experiences and emotions. Children can be quite resilient; however, this is only true if they are set up with appropriate support and guidance to cope with life’s big hurdles and obstacles.
Death is part of life and something that all humans will experience at some point. Sometimes our circumstances force us to have conversations about death in early childhood. Here are a few tips that can help you have these tough conversations about death with your child…