How do you tell children about death? I have always wondered this, and lucky to never have to do it yet with either of my children. However my son is getting older and I am sure he wonders about my parents (both passed). Suggestions?

For a start I think that you have to be honest. There is no point using silly stories of where the person went because the child will confuse them and think that there is the possibility of the person coming back, or visiting the person.

Be honest, tell them that the person has died, and if they ask what death means, tell them that the person's body stopped working, or his heart stopped beating, or whatever is age appropriate for describing the physical process.

For the spiritual, that will depend on your own beliefs. Just make sure that the child understands that they will not see the loved one again. There is no point in encouraging false hope only to have to dash it later.

Its nothing as far as spiritual that worries me, its more how to pharse the things instead. He has never asked about my parents yet (the oldest) so I will wait and see I guess.

I would be honest. My mom tried the cutesy stuff with me and I can recall being horrified when I realized what things meant later on. It depends on the child though as some will never deal with death well, while others will be able to handle just about anything.

I am hoping once I need to really have the talk, it will come out the way it is in my mind. I think my son will be okay, but I have a feeling my girl will be the one with a ton of questions.

How old is your son? Were your parents alive when he was born? Did he know them?

My children have unfortunately lost a few family members, most notably my brother in law about 1 1/2 years ago. My oldest boy was almost 6 at the time. He knew his uncle very well. I had to explain to him that his uncle was old and sick and his body didn't work anymore, so his body died, but his soul went to heaven to be with God. It actually wasn't really true, he was only 52, but to a 7 year old, that's old. I don't know if you believe in that, so my advice may not help in that regard, but I did think it was important that he knew that his uncle was gone and we weren't going to be able to see him anymore.

My parents both died in the last few years as well - my dad in 2005 and my mom is 2006. My children didn't know them as well, but since then, my oldest has asked about them, and I told him the same thing.

It's tough because you don't want kids to worry, for example, if they get sick, are they going to die? That's why I emphasize that they were old when they died.