Children and the idea of death - View Question

Children and the idea of death

My 6-year old son realizes that as he grows, his parents will get older and eventually die. So he is happy to get bigger and taller but he knows there is a sad part to it. We try to reassure him that we'll die only when he is big and probably a parent himself but still the idea is a difficult one for him.

It is really a subject about which I am not going to lie to him. It is somehow better he understands the reality of life...there are good parts, bad parts and you need to embrace them all.

Vero

See also: death

Written by Vero

Posted on 03/03/2008

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Answers:

I agree. My son knows what the action "dead" is, but I don't think he really really understands it. He's five. I'm not sure at this point whether we should help him understand, or just leave it until he asks more questions. One thing we have been doing, is discouraging him from watching or playing violent games (like video games) I think it can desensitize a child to the actions that can cause death.

posted by Susan on 03/04/2008

My kids love to watch Animal Planet. If they have to experience some kind of violence at least let it be part of the Animal World.

posted by Vero on 03/04/2008

my mom past away when I was 7 years old, and I understood completety that it meant was not going to see her again, it was very hard, but that kind of early experience can eigther break you, or make you. In my case, it has shaped me into the person I am today: strong, independant, compassionate and spiritual. I am now 32 years old, and that was my mom's age when she passed, it blows my mind!. And now that I have kids of my own, I know how preciouse time is... sweet, sweet, time, it's really all we have and yet can escape us in the blink of an eye.

posted by Maribel on 03/04/2008

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