Many people ask if a child should be allowed to attend a funeral, or if they are welcome at the wake. The answer here is YES, but there are a few considerations. The primary consideration is not to force the child to attend the funeral. If the child asks to go, allow them to do so.
The secondary consideration is the child's understanding of death. Usually, children under the age of 6 do not have a thorough understanding of death. It is important to explain to the child beforehand what he will see and do when he goes to the funeral home or service.
Explain to them in terms they understand that death is a part of life. Most children understand death as it applies to nature, plants and animals, but they do not know why people die, especially if it is someone they are close to, such as a grandparent. Many questions race through a young mind when they learn that someone has died. Like most adults, children want to know why someone has died, where they go to when they have died and why the doctors or hospitals couldn't prevent them from dying.
We are more than happy to point you in the direction of resources to help your child with understanding death and coping with grief. There are several publications that are available and we can also give you references to counselors through out the state.
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