Studies show that children go through a series of stages in their understanding of death. For example, preschool children usually see death as reversible, temporary, and impersonal. Watching cartoon charac- ters on television miraculously recover after being crushed or blown apart tends to rein- force this idea.
Between the ages of 5 and 9, most children are beginning to realize that death is final and that all living things die.
From age 9 or 10 through adolescence, children begin to comprehend fully that death is irreversible; that all living things die and that they, too, will die someday. Some begin to work on developing philosophical views of life and death. Teenagers often become intrigued with seeking the meaning of life.
Mourning is the recognition of a deeply felt loss and is a process we all must go through before we are able to pick up the pieces and to go on living fully and normally again. Mourning is part of the healing process. By being open to our sor- row and tears, we show our children that it is all right to feel sad and to cry. The expression of grief should never be equat- ed with weakness. Our sons as well as our daughters should be allowed to shed their tears and express their feelings if and when they need to.
No matter how children cope with death or express their feelings, they need...
BY: National Institute of Mental Health
