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2 Tips To Prepare Your Child For Their First Funeral

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It can be a difficult experience for any child to attend their first funeral. That's why you need to take the time to prepare them ahead of the event, so they are comfortable and understand what is happening.

Here are some tips to help you make sure your child is ready for their first funeral.

Prepare Your Child for What to Expect

Preparing your child can help them understand death and process their grief.

Among the main benefits of preparing your child for a funeral is that it helps normalize death in a way that allows your child to become comfortable with the subject. You can help your child learn about different customer rituals and places of mourning and reassure them that death isn't something to be feared.

Additionally, preparing your child for a funeral allows them to better understand grief and how others may respond to losing someone close. Discussing these topics will help them develop empathy and compassion towards grieving others — a valuable skill they can carry with them throughout life.

Finally, by preparing your child before they attend a funeral, you can empower them to participate in activities that help with healing through remembrance or celebration, such as listening to music or creating artwork. In some cases, this activity can help in the grieving process and may provide comfort during what is often an emotional time. 

Provide Age-Appropriate Explanations 

Explaining death to a child can be tough. You need to use language that is appropriate for their age and level of comprehension. When explaining death, use language that your child can easily understand.

For younger children, some explanations may focus on certain topics, such as how a loved one's body is no longer living, but their spirit is still alive. Be sure to discuss that death is permanent, but also explain some of the things people can do to remember a loved one.

For older children, you should go into more detail about what death is and the customs and traditions that take place during a funeral. You may also want to discuss why funerals are important and how they can provide comfort during a time of mourning.

Make sure to focus on the positive memories your child may have of the deceased person and provide a safe space for them to talk about their grief. You can also use this opportunity to talk about any worries or fears your child may have about attending a funeral.

For more information, contact a local funeral home.


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