What to say to a child when a parent dies?
“I wish I had the right words, just know I care.” “You and your loved one will be in my thoughts and prayers.” “I am so sorry for your loss.” “My favorite memory of your loved one is...”
Should you let a child see a deceased parent?
Young children do not need to be there when a parent actually dies, but it’s important for them to stay in their home where they feel the most secure. It may be tempting to have a child stay with another relative during this time, but that can create other problems for the child.
At what age does a child understand death?
Children begin to grasp death’s finality around age 4. In one typical study, researchers found that 10 percent of 3-year-olds understand irreversibility, compared with 58 percent of 4-year-olds. The other two aspects of death are learned a bit later, usually between age 5 and 7.