• Mental Health
    • Anxiety
      • What is Anxiety?
      • Types of Anxiety Disorders
      • Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety
      • Treatments for Anxiety
      • Anxiety Statistics
      • See More Anxiety Content
      • Find an Anxiety Specialist
    • Depression
      • What is Depression?
      • Types of Depression
      • Signs & Symptoms of Depression
      • Treatments for Depression
      • Depression Statistics
      • Find a Depression Specialist
    • Bipolar Disorder
      • What is Bipolar Disorder?
      • Bipolar I vs. Bipolar II
      • Signs & Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
      • What Are Bipolar Disorder Cycles?
      • Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
      • Find a Bipolar Disorder Specialist
    • ADHD
      • What is ADHD?
      • ADHD Signs & Symptoms
      • ADHD & Depression
      • Find an ADHD Specialist
    • Addiction
      • What is Addiction?
      • What Are Behavioral Addictions?
      • Addiction vs Dependence
      • Addiction Myths vs Facts
      • Addiction Statistics
      • How to Help a Friend
      • Find an Addiction Specialist
    • Eating Disorders
      • Anorexia
      • Bulimia
    • Personality Disorders
      • Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
        • OCD vs. OCPD
    • Trauma
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
        • PTSD & COVID-19
      • Childhood Trauma
    • Sexual Disorders
      • Gender Dysphoria
      • Anorgasmia
      • Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD)
      • Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)
      • Premature Ejaculation (PE)
      • Delayed Ejaculation
    • Schizophrenia
  • Therapy Techniques
    • Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy
      • Online Therapy for Teens
      • Best LGBTQ Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy for Insurance
    • Psychotherapy
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
      • CBT for Anxiety
      • CBT for Social Anxiety
      • CBT for Panic Disorder
      • CBT for Insomnia
      • CBT Online
    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
      • DBT for Teens
    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
      • EMDR for PTSD
      • EMDR for Anxiety
      • EMDR Online
    • Art Therapy
    • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
    • Exposure and Response Prevention
    • Group Therapy
    • Hypnotherapy
    • Motivational Interviewing
    • Person Centered Therapy
    • Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy
    • Sex Therapy
  • Types of Therapists
    • Faith-Based & Christian Counselors
    • Life Coaching
    • Family Therapist
      • Child & Teen Counseling
    • Marriage & Couples Counselors
      • Premarital Counseling
    • Psychiatrist
      • Psychology vs. Psychiatry
    • Psychotherapist
    • Grief Counselors
    • Online Therapists
  • Starting Therapy FAQ
    • Does Therapy Work?
      • How to Find a Therapist
      • Helping a Friend or Loved One
    • How to Choose a Therapist
      • Finding a Black Therapist
      • Finding a Latinx Therapist
      • Finding an LGBTQ-Friendly Therapist
      • Finding a Therapist as a Young Adult
      • Finding an Online Therapist
    • Preparing for Your First Session
    • Types of Mental Health Professionals
    • Mental Health Insurance
      • HSAs for Therapy
      • Sliding Scale Therapy Fees
    • Mental Health in the Workplace
      • Asking for a Mental Health Day
      • Taking Time Off for Mental Health
    • Top Mental Health Organizations
      • Mental Health Resources Outside the U.S.
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Advertising Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Write for Us
    • Join the Directory
    • Careers
  • Therapist Directory
    • Find a Therapist
    • Join the Directory
    • Directory Login
  • Mental Health
    • Anxiety
      • What is Anxiety?
      • Types of Anxiety Disorders
      • Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety
      • Treatments for Anxiety
      • Anxiety Statistics
      • See More Anxiety Content
      • Find an Anxiety Specialist
    • Depression
      • What is Depression?
      • Types of Depression
      • Signs & Symptoms of Depression
      • Treatments for Depression
      • Depression Statistics
      • Find a Depression Specialist
    • Bipolar Disorder
      • What is Bipolar Disorder?
      • Bipolar I vs. Bipolar II
      • Signs & Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
      • What Are Bipolar Disorder Cycles?
      • Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
      • Find a Bipolar Disorder Specialist
    • ADHD
      • What is ADHD?
      • ADHD Signs & Symptoms
      • ADHD & Depression
      • Find an ADHD Specialist
    • Addiction
      • What is Addiction?
      • What Are Behavioral Addictions?
      • Addiction vs Dependence
      • Addiction Myths vs Facts
      • Addiction Statistics
      • How to Help a Friend
      • Find an Addiction Specialist
    • Eating Disorders
      • Anorexia
      • Bulimia
    • Personality Disorders
      • Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder
        • OCD vs. OCPD
    • Trauma
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
        • PTSD & COVID-19
      • Childhood Trauma
    • Sexual Disorders
      • Gender Dysphoria
      • Anorgasmia
      • Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD)
      • Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)
      • Premature Ejaculation (PE)
      • Delayed Ejaculation
    • Schizophrenia
  • Therapy Techniques
    • Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy
      • Online Therapy for Teens
      • Best LGBTQ Online Therapy
      • Best Online Therapy for Insurance
    • Psychotherapy
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
      • CBT for Anxiety
      • CBT for Social Anxiety
      • CBT for Panic Disorder
      • CBT for Insomnia
      • CBT Online
    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
      • DBT for Teens
    • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
      • EMDR for PTSD
      • EMDR for Anxiety
      • EMDR Online
    • Art Therapy
    • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
    • Exposure and Response Prevention
    • Group Therapy
    • Hypnotherapy
    • Motivational Interviewing
    • Person Centered Therapy
    • Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy
    • Sex Therapy
  • Types of Therapists
    • Faith-Based & Christian Counselors
    • Life Coaching
    • Family Therapist
      • Child & Teen Counseling
    • Marriage & Couples Counselors
      • Premarital Counseling
    • Psychiatrist
      • Psychology vs. Psychiatry
    • Psychotherapist
    • Grief Counselors
    • Online Therapists
  • Starting Therapy FAQ
    • Does Therapy Work?
      • How to Find a Therapist
      • Helping a Friend or Loved One
    • How to Choose a Therapist
      • Finding a Black Therapist
      • Finding a Latinx Therapist
      • Finding an LGBTQ-Friendly Therapist
      • Finding a Therapist as a Young Adult
      • Finding an Online Therapist
    • Preparing for Your First Session
    • Types of Mental Health Professionals
    • Mental Health Insurance
      • HSAs for Therapy
      • Sliding Scale Therapy Fees
    • Mental Health in the Workplace
      • Asking for a Mental Health Day
      • Taking Time Off for Mental Health
    • Top Mental Health Organizations
      • Mental Health Resources Outside the U.S.
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Policy
    • Advertising Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Write for Us
    • Join the Directory
    • Careers
  • Therapist Directory
    • Find a Therapist
    • Join the Directory
    • Directory Login
Skip to content

How to Explain Death to a Child

Published: October 25, 2022 Updated: November 24, 2022
Published: 10/25/2022 Updated: 11/24/2022
Headshot of Hart Haragutchi, MA, LMHCA
Written by:

Hart Haragutchi

MA, LMHCA
Headshot of Benjamin Troy, MD
Reviewed by:

Benjamin Troy

MD
  • Why Is Talking to Kids About Death Important?Importance
  • When to Explain Death to a ChildTiming
  • Tips For Explaining Death to Children14 Tips
  • What Phrases Should I Avoid When Talking to Children About Death?What to Avoid
  • Children’s Reactions to Talking About DeathReactions
  • Why Is it Hard to Talk to Kids About Death?Difficulties
  • How Therapy Can HelpTherapy
  • Final ThoughtsConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesResources
  • How to Explain Death to a Child InfographicsInfographics
Headshot of Hart Haragutchi, MA, LMHCA
Written by:

Hart Haragutchi

MA, LMHCA
Headshot of Benjamin Troy, MD
Reviewed by:

Benjamin Troy

MD

Explaining death to children is key to helping them develop a healthy outlook on death. Start the conversation when they’re young, use clear and direct language, and model honest emotional expression. This supports healthy grieving, increases mental resilience, and helps them be better prepared when they experience the death of a loved one.

Therapists can provide parent coaching, which can be helpful in having difficult conversations with your child. BetterHelp has over 20,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $60 per week. Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp

Visit BetterHelp

Why Is Talking to Kids About Death Important?

Many children will experience a death before they reach adulthood. The death of a grandparent, parent, and pet are the most common first experiences. Talking to children about death can help them to understand and process the inevitable deaths and cope with grief they will encounter with less fear and anxiety.1

Research has shown that without adult support, children struggle to develop a healthy outlook on death.2 Talking about death also facilitates children’s ability to grieve in a healthy way and reduces the likelihood that deaths experienced in childhood will negatively impact them later in life.3,4

When to Explain Death to a Child

A child is never too young to be told if a loved one has died. In general, when talking about death, honesty is the best policy, regardless of age. That said, it’s important to talk with your child in a way that matches where they are developmentally.

At What Age Is it Appropriate to Talk to a Child About Death

Below is a guideline for what many children understand about death at different ages. Each child develops an understanding of death at their own pace and in their own way, and may not mirror the trajectory outlined below.

Children will understand death in the following ways as they develop:5,6,7,8,9

  • Children age 3 & under: most children don’t have the cognitive and linguistic development to begin understanding death before age 3
  • Children age 3-5: between ages 3 and 5, children can typically understand that death means someone is gone. However, they struggle to understand the finality, non-functionality, and irreversibility of death. Most children at this age will not understand that death is universal or that death is caused by the breakdown of bodily functioning.
  • Children age 5-7: by 5 or 6, most children understand that death is irreversible. They are beginning to understand the non-functionality of death, and may begin wondering about the causation of death. They do not yet understand the universality or inevitability of death.
  • Children age 7-9: by age 7, many children are able to understand that death is final, irreversible, and results in non-functioning. At this age they are still developing an understanding of causation, and may be more prone to believing that thoughts can cause someone else’s death. They may be especially interested in or anxious about what causes death as they develop this understanding. Children at this age are also beginning to understand that death is universal and inevitable, which can be quite frightening.
  • Children age 9-12: by age 10, the vast majority of children understand the finality, irreversibility, and nonfunctioning nature of death. They begin to develop a more sophisticated understanding of the causation, universality, and inevitability of death.
  • Children age 12 & Up: by age 12, children are able to understand the core components of the concept of death, teenagers are beginning to develop their philosophical and/or religious understanding of death. They may be particularly interested in understanding and creating meaning around the concept of and their experiences with death.

14 Tips For Explaining Death to Children

Talking about death with children can be hard, and you might feel a lot of pressure to do it “the right way.” Far more important than doing it perfectly is simply starting the conversation, and following your child’s lead on what they’re ready to talk about.

Below are fourteen tips to help with explaining death to children:

1. Don’t Wait For the Death of a Loved One

Don’t wait for the death of a loved one to occur before you start talking to children about death. Instead, begin talking about it with them when they’re young. By age 3, you can begin to introduce the concept of death by observing and narrating examples your child is likely to encounter, such as a dead bug.

Talking to children about death early helps set them up to better understand what’s happening when death occurs. It also helps introduce the idea of death when you’re not actually navigating it yourself. You’re more likely to be calm and able to focus solely on your child, modeling that it’s safe and OK to talk about death. This helps keep the lines of communication open as they age.

2. Be Direct & Honest

Use clear and direct language when talking to kids about death. With children as young as 3, you can begin to explain what death is in plain language. For example, if you see a dead bug you can say: “That bug is dead. That means that it is not alive and it will not come back. It doesn’t eat, think, sleep, or feel anything.”

Beginning around age 5-6, or when your child begins to ask questions about it, use plain language to explain what causes death and who dies. You can say “When someone’s body stops working, they die. There are lots of things that can cause a body to stop working, but what you think and say can’t make anybody die. At some point, everybody dies.”

As kids begin to fully understand the concept of death, they may have questions that you don’t know the answers to. Be direct and say “I don’t know.” You can offer to help them find the answer to their question, or help them learn to sit with what it feels like to not have all the answers.

3. Use Simple Words & Phrases

It’s important to stick to simple words and phrases and understand that the abstract concept of death is not something a young child’s brain will fully understand. Simple words that can help the child understand the concreteness of death. Sometimes we want to soften the impact we think children will have by using language that feels less harsh, however that can lead to more confusion instead of just being up front about what death actually means.

4. Tell Them What to Expect

It’s important that children have an idea of what to expect from death. Talking about death rituals and funeral processes that your family follows is important. Talking about why you follow those rituals is just as important. Giving them a step-by-step of what to do or where to go/sit/stand can help them feel less confused. Normalizing their experience of this is critical as it will shape the way they handle and learn to cope with death long-term.

5. Validate Their Response

Whatever your child’s response is, validate it. Particularly with young children, how you react to their response is helping them understand what’s OK and who they can trust with their thoughts and feelings. If your child cries, you might say, “I can see that talking about this makes you feel sad. And sometimes when people are sad they cry. It’s OK to feel sad and to cry.”

6. Share Your Emotions

Children model their own emotional reactions and behaviors based on what they see the adults in their lives doing. They also develop an understanding of what is and what isn’t allowed based on what they see and hear. By sharing your emotions, you model that it’s OK to have feelings about death and it’s OK to talk about them.10

The same goes for crying. It’s OK to cry in front of children. Doing so models that you don’t have to hide your emotions from others. This helps children to be more comfortable with their own emotional experience and expression, setting them up to be more resilient and have better mental health.

7. Make it an Ongoing Conversation

Explaining death to children should be an ongoing conversation that changes based on your child’s understanding of death and cognitive and linguistic development. Many children need time to process what they hear before they’re able to formulate questions about it, and they may ask the same questions multiple times. Invite your child’s questions, and follow their lead in when and what they’re ready to talk about.

8. Use Age-appropriate Books & Shows

Sometimes it can be hard to find the right time or the right words to talk about death with a child. Using age appropriate books and shows can help you have those conversations. You may find that books or shows that aren’t specifically about death or grief offer a way to initiate the conversation by talking about what you read or see together.

If there’s been a death that has impacted the child, books and shows that are about death and grief can not only help you talk about it, they can help normalize your child’s experience and make them feel less alone.

9. Offer Comfort

Talking about death can be sad, scary, and confusing. Be sure to offer comfort to your child in a way that feels good to them, both during and after talking about death. You might offer to hold them or hold their hand, give them a hug, or reassure them that you want to know what they’re thinking and feeling.

10. Ask Questions & Listen Closely

Ask your child questions about what they think and encourage them to ask you questions as well. Pay attention to what they ask, how they ask it, and what kind of language they use. It can give you clues into how your child is interpreting the information and how they are making sense of death. It is also a time to learn how your child’s thought process works with challenging and abstract information, and paying attention to their words and body can give you clues on how you can further support them.

11. Provide Healthy Distractions

Talking about and dealing with death can be two different things, but both can be challenging for children. Encouraging children to channel their emotions is important but giving them adaptive options such as journaling, being outside in nature, playing at a park, or coloring and drawing are good options. These all stimulate the children’s creativity and emotional brain to help them regulate themselves.

12. Give Them Time

Death is confusing at times for adults to comprehend and digest, and the same goes for children. Your children not showing emotion doesn’t mean they aren’t processing the death. It just means they are trying to work through in their minds what happened to really understand how they feel. They may also be showing emotion when it appears they are not, so being mindful of how your child communicates non-verbally is important.

13. Remember the Loved One Who Died

It’s important to help children keep their loved one’s memory alive. Keep talking about them with your children and bringing up old memories in conversation. It helps children feel like their loved one may be physically gone but they can still hold love for them and talk about them. It normalizes the feelings of missing someone and the many emotions that come up with grief.

14. If Necessary, Consult a Therapist

For some children, they experience death in such a traumatic or challenging way that reconciling their emotions and trying to support them is challenging. This doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent, it just means that sometimes we need to support ourselves to support our kids, and that can look like going to a child psychologist to get support for your child, and yourself, for how to manage these feelings at home.

Popular Options For Child & Teen Therapy

Talkiatry – Talkiatry offers virtual psychiatry for children and adolescents (age 6 and up). They’re in-network with every major insurer and offer medication management with talk therapy. Complete the online assessment and get matched with a doctor in just days. Free Assessment


Teen Counseling – Provides online talk therapy to teenagers (13 – 19 years) of age. Serves all 50 states. Learn More


Manatee – Provides parent coaching for behavioral issues including tantrums, talking back, video game addiction, and aggressive behaviors. Free Consultation


Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by Talkiatry, Teen Counseling, and Manatee.

What Phrases Should I Avoid When Talking to Children About Death?

When talking to children about death, the most important thing to avoid is euphemisms. While these phrases make sense to adults, they can be confusing and frightening for children.3 They may wonder exactly where the person went, become fearful about going to sleep, or cause them to believe that the deceased is going to return.

When talking to a child about death, avoid using the following euphemisms:

  • “He passed away”
  • “She’s gone to a better place”
  • “They’re with God now”
  • “She’s been called home”
  • “We put the dog to sleep”
  • “He’s resting in peace”

Use direct, clear language such as “He died,” instead. This may sound blunt to adult ears, but is more clear and less frightening for children.

It can be hard to know what to tell a child and when. As a result, many adults give too little information. They may redirect a child when they ask questions about death and dying out of fear that the child isn’t old enough to understand.

Instead, take your child’s questions as a guide post for what they’re ready to know. If they ask a question, answer it using age-appropriate language that is direct and clear.

Children’s Reactions to Talking About Death

Children may respond in many different ways to talking about death. They may cry, become fearful or worried, ask a lot of questions, or appear to have no response. There is no singular or typical reaction to talking about death. Whichever way your child reacts is valid.

It’s important to validate your child’s reaction, and help them narrate it if they’re younger. For example, you might say, “I can see that you feel sad right now. It’s OK to be sad about this. Do you want to tell me about it?” If a child appears to have no reaction, you might say, “It’s OK not to have any thoughts or feelings about this right now. If something comes up later, know that you can come talk to me about it.”

Remember that talking about death should not be a one-time event. If your child seemed particularly sad or scared, follow-up with them a little bit later when they’ve had some time to sit with the information. You might say, “I know that you felt sad the other day when we were talking about death. Do you want to ask me anything about it or talk about it together?”

If your child didn’t appear to have much of a reaction, it’s still important to follow up. You might check in with them by saying “The other day we were talking about death. I wondered if you had questions about that or if you wanted to talk about it with me?”

Why Is it Hard to Talk to Kids About Death?

Talking about death may be difficult for adults, too.1 This could be because of their own experiences or unpleasant memories of talking about death with an adult when they were young. Conversely, they may have no memories of talking about it as a child and feel unprepared to talk about it as an adult. Conversations about death may also act as a reminder of their own mortality.11

It might also be hard to talk to kids about death because the adult is worried about scaring or overwhelming them. They might worry that they won’t be able to answer the child’s questions. Some adults worry that they may show emotions or emotional expressions (such as sadness and crying) that they aren’t comfortable with.

What If I’m Not Ready to Talk About Death With My Child?

If you don’t feel ready to talk about death with your child, it’s important to start by identifying the cause of your hesitancy. Do you feel uncomfortable talking about death in general? Are you worried you won’t know what to say? Are you afraid of how you or your child might react? Identifying what keeps you from feeling ready allows you to make a plan for addressing the cause.

For many adults who don’t feel ready to talk about death with their child, gathering more information can help. Talk to other trusted adults about how they approached the conversation with their child. Remember, you don’t have to know all of the answers or hide your own emotions.

How Therapy Can Help

Many adults have a complicated relationship with death, dying, and grief.10 Because children’s understanding and outlook on death is influenced by the adults in their lives, being able to comfortably talk about death is important.2 Therapy, especially grief counseling, can be helpful in providing you a safe place to examine your own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about death.

Therapy can help you process and grieve deaths you’ve experienced that may be making it hard to discuss death with your child. If you or your child’s grief crosses over into persistent complex bereavement disorder or another mood disorder, professional help will be important to relieve those symptoms.

Whether you are talking about death with your child before a death has occurred, or if you’re actively dealing with the death of a loved one, therapists can provide tailored information and support to help you navigate that conversation. An online directory is a great place to start when choosing a therapist.

Final Thoughts

As the adult in a child’s life, you have the ability to help them develop a healthy outlook on death. Talking openly and honestly about death can help them tremendously when they experience the death of a loved one, and can support better mental health later in life.

Additional Resources

Education is just the first step on our path to improved mental health and emotional wellness. To help our readers take the next step in their journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy may be compensated for marketing by the companies mentioned below.

Online Therapy 

BetterHelp Get support and guidance from a licensed therapist. BetterHelp has over 20,000 therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy.  Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you. Get Started

Virtual Psychiatry

Talkiatry Get help from a real doctor that takes your insurance. Talkiatry offers medication management and online visits with top-rated psychiatrists. Take the online assessment and have your first appointment within a week Free Assessment

Support Groups

Sesh – Sesh offers 100+ live, interactive webinars per month facilitated by mental health professionals. Topics included, “Managing Emotional Guilt and Shame”, “Building Healthy Relationships”, and “Pressing The Breaks On Gaslighting”. Free One Month Trial

Guided Psychedelic Journeys

Innerwell Ketamine is a prescription medication that clinicians can prescribe off-label to treat trauma, depression, anxiety, and OCD. Innerwell pairs ketamine with support from licensed psychotherapists. Find out if you’re a good candidate: Take Online Assessment

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by Sesh, BetterHelp, Innerwell, and Talkiatry.

How to Explain Death to a Child Infographics

Importance of Talking to Kids About Death Tips for Explaining Death to Children Euphemisms to Avoid When Explaining Death to Children Getting Help for Grief

11 sources

Choosing Therapy strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.

  • Renaud, S., Engarhos, P., Schleifer, M., & Talwar, V. (2015). Children’s earliest experiences with death: Circumstances, conversations, explanations, and parental satisfaction. Infant and Child Development, 24, 157-174. https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.1889

  • Yang, S., & Chen, S. (2006). Content analysis of free-response narratives to personal meanings of death among Chinese children and adolescents. Death Studies, 30(3), 217–241. 10.1080/07481180500493385

  • Siegel, K. Mesagno, F.P., & Christ, G. (1990). A prevention program for bereaved children. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 60(2),168-75. 10.1037/h0079187

  • Takeuchi, H., Hiroe, T., Kanai, T., Morinobu, S., Kitamura, T., Takahashi, K. & Furukawa, T.A. (2003). Childhood parental separation experiences and depressive symptomatology in acute major depression. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 57, 215-219. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1819.2003.01103.x

  • Poltorak, D. Y., & Glazer, J. P. (2006). The development of children’s understanding of death: Cognitive and psychodynamic considerations. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 15(3), 567–573. 10.1016/j.chc.2006.03.003

  • Slaughter, V. & Griffiths, M. (2007). Death understanding and fear of death in young children. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 12(4), 525-535. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104507080980

  • Slaughter, V. (2005). Young children’s understanding of death. Australian Psychologist, 40(3), 179-186. 10.1080/00050060500243426

  • Speece, M., & Brent, S. (1992). The acquisition of a mature understanding of three components of the concept of death. Death Studies, 16(3), 211–229. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481189208252571

  • Cassini, K., and J. Rogers. 1996. Death and the classroom: A teacher’s guide to assist grieving students. Cincinnati, OH: Griefwork of Cincinnati.

  • James, J. & Friedman, R. (2001). When children grieve: For adults to help children deal with death, divorce, pet loss, moving, and other losses. Harper Perennial.

  • Agrawal, J. (2021). What do preschool children in India understand about death?: An exploratory study. OMEGA- Journal of Death and Dying, 83(2), 274-286. https://doi.org/10.1177/0030222819852834

update history

We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.

  • Originally Published: August 26, 2021
    Original Author: Hart Haragutchi, MA, LMHCA
    Original Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD

  • Updated: October 25, 2022
    Author: No Change
    Reviewer: No Change
    Primary Changes: Updated for readability and clarity. Reviewed and added relevant resources. Added seven new tips to “Tips for Explaining Death to Children”. New material written by Silvi Saxena, MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C and reviewed by Kristen Fuller, MD.

Recent Articles

Denial Stage of Grief: Examples, What to Expect, & How to Cope
Denial Stage of Grief: Examples, What to Expect, & How to Cope
The denial stage of grief is the first stage in Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ five-stage model of grief. Denial allows...
';
Symptoms of Grief How to Cope When to Get Help
Symptoms of Grief: How to Cope & When to Get Help
Grief is a natural and involuntary human response after experiencing a significant loss with diverse reactions, including clusters of...
';
4 stages of grief
What to Know About the 4 Stages of Grief
Grief is a painful but normal part of the human experience. One model of grief categorizes this process into...
';
What Are the Physical Symptoms of Grief? Effects & How to Cope
What Are the Physical Symptoms of Grief? Effects & How to Cope
People often don't think of grief as anything other than emotional pain, failing to recognize the physical response to...
';
How to Console Someone Who is Grieving
How to Console Someone Who is Grieving: 17 Tips from a Therapist
Grief is a normal experience, yet can be difficult to navigate. Knowing how to console someone who’s grieving may...
';
Anger Stage of Grief
Anger Stage of Grief: Examples, What to Expect, & How to Cope
Many have yet to accept that anger is a common part of the human grieving experience. Sometimes, anger can...
';
Headshot of Hart Haragutchi, MA, LMHCA
Written by:

Hart Haragutchi

MA, LMHCA
Headshot of Benjamin Troy, MD
Reviewed by:

Benjamin Troy

MD
  • Why Is Talking to Kids About Death Important?Importance
  • When to Explain Death to a ChildTiming
  • Tips For Explaining Death to Children14 Tips
  • What Phrases Should I Avoid When Talking to Children About Death?What to Avoid
  • Children’s Reactions to Talking About DeathReactions
  • Why Is it Hard to Talk to Kids About Death?Difficulties
  • How Therapy Can HelpTherapy
  • Final ThoughtsConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesResources
  • How to Explain Death to a Child InfographicsInfographics
If you are in need of immediate medical help:
Medical
Emergency
911
Suicide Hotline
800-273-8255
See more Crisis Hotlines
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Write for Us
  • Careers
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • No Surprises Act
For immediate help call:
Medical Emergency:
911
Suicide Hotline:
988
Click For More Crisis Hotlines
For immediate help call:
Medical Emergency:
911
Suicide Hotline:
811
See more Crisis Hotlines
here
logo
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.
Choosing Therapy Logo
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit Cookie Settings to provide controlled consent. Cookie settings ACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

We use cookies to facilitate website functionality. Also, we use third-party cookies to track your website behavior and target advertising. These cookies are stored in your browser only with your consent, and you have the choice of opting out.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non Necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

Save & Accept