<p>It's only natural that parents want to protect their children from anything painful. <br /><br /> As parents, it is only natural that you&rsquo;d want to shield your child away from anything that could potentially make them upset. However, when keeping in mind that you are raising a future adult who will one day participate in the world independently, it&rsquo;s never a good idea to shield them from the inevitable. While this type of conversation can and probably will be uncomfortable for both parties, it&rsquo;s a necessary one to have! We&rsquo;ve provided some tips and suggestions on how to approach this subject with children! <a href="/hidden-pages/memorializing-suffolk-va">Our cremation services in Suffolk, VA</a> are just one of the<a href="/services/cremation-services"> many services we offer</a>. Call us today! <br /><br /> <strong>Be Honest</strong><br /> One of the worst things that parents can do when broaching the subject of <a href="/resources/when-death-occurs">death with their children</a> is to lie. Children are much more observant than they are given credit for, so chances are if you are holding something back, they&rsquo;ll most likely notice. While you don&rsquo;t have to go into the specific circumstances behind a loved one&rsquo;s death, it is important that you make clear that they are gone and not returning. While it may be your instinct to spare them any negative feelings, doing so will only cause greater pain and possible confusion later down the line. <br /><br /> <strong>Ensure They Understand</strong><br /> When navigating this difficult conversation, it&rsquo;s important that your child fully understands what everything you are saying means. Avoid using terminology such as &ldquo;fell asleep&rdquo; as this is not an accurate explanation and can cause some misunderstanding in the long run. Additionally, you&rsquo;ll want to be sure to remain open to answering any and all questions that they have. Naturally, they will be confused as this is a subject that they most likely were previously unaware of, so be sure to let them know that you are willing to answer any questions or concerns they may have. <br /><br /> <strong>Prepare For Their Reaction</strong><br /> In this type of conversation, it is expected that your child will have some kind of an emotional reaction. While this will not look the same for all children, don&rsquo;t be alarmed if your child cries, becomes angry, gets confused, or has any other response. These reactions are all normal! Be sure to validate their feelings and let them know that the things that they are feeling are completely natural. If they seem particularly upset, let them know that you two can revisit the conversation at another time, when they feel ready. <br /><br /> <strong>Prepare Them For The Future</strong><br /> If your child was particularly close to the deceased, assure them that there are still ways in which you two can remember and honor them in the future. This can be comforting information as it allows the child to consider what life will be like without the deceased in their life. <br /><br /> <strong>Cry Together</strong> Again, you may have a natural instinct to want to remain strong and unemotional in front of your child, but we advise against that approach! We suggest allowing your child to cry along with you, as it both validates how they are feeling and also lets them know that being vulnerable and releasing their emotions is a normal and healthy way to cope with grief. If you need cremation services in Suffolk, VA stop in today!</p>