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Young brother and sister sharing tablet device.

What do children and young people understand about death?

How much children understand about death will be different at different ages and stages of development. These are the most common understandings of death by children of different ages but remember that all children are special and unique and therefore, they will respond to and understand death in their own ...

Should I tell my children that their loved one is dying?

When a parent, grandparent brother or sister is seriously ill, whether they have cancer or another illness, there may come a point when you know that they may not survive. This will be a dreadful realisation for you to come to terms with, and you will be faced with the ...
Mother talking with daughter on the sofa

Talking to children and young people about suicide in the news

It is a sad fact that suicide rates are tragically on the rise in the UK. Stories are regularly reported in the media, widely communicated in person and across social media, resulting in exposure to sometimes quite distressing reports. When these sorts of events hit the news, it’s important to think ...
Small girl sat on the floor looking sad while her mum strokes her hair

Should children attend a funeral?

Some families believe that children should not attend a funeral. However, it can help them to begin to accept the reality of the death and also to be less scared. Children are usually more scared about what they don’t know than what they are allowed to be part of as ...
Asian mum on the phone with young child and laptop in front of her.

Preparing a child to attend a funeral

The involvement of children and young people in funerals and other rituals following a death will, of course, vary in families depending on their cultural and religious beliefs, but it can help children if they can see for themselves rather than let their imaginations run riot. From conversations with bereaved children ...
Child looking at adult

Talking about sudden death with children and young people

When someone in your life dies, feelings of grief can be overwhelming. These feelings may be even more difficult to handle if the death is sudden, traumatic or violent. There are many types of sudden death – it could be through an illness, an accident, murder, manslaughter or suicide. How might ...
Young child with SEND walking holding hands with two adults.

Do children with SEND understand death?

For a child with special educational needs and disabilities, their functional level of understanding (rather than actual chronological age) will be the biggest factor in how the child reacts to a death and what they will be able to understand. Knowing what children at different developmental stages understand about death ...
Talking about tragic events Winston's Wish

Talking about tragic events with children and young people

Terrorist attacks, as well as natural and man-made disasters, are, sadly, regular occurrences these day - in the last few years we have seen multiple attacks in the UK and around the world. When these events hit the news it is important to think about how and what we communicate ...
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