Children process death differently than adults, which is why it’s important for parents to talk to their kids about loss to help with the grieving process. At Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, we provide people throughout Trumbull, CT, and the surrounding area with grief counseling resources and a wide range of funeral services to help them say their final goodbyes to loved ones.

Below are three ways to approach talking to your children about loss:

• Start an Open Dialogue: Kids are perceptive and will realize something strange has happened. They probably won’t ask direct questions for fear of making you upset. Instead, they might act out to cope with stress. To prevent this from happening, you should start the conversation. Ask your children how they’ve been feeling lately, and use the opportunity to mention what’s happened.
• Give Direct Answers: Young children might not understand the concept of death, so you should provide a simple, straightforward explanation. In an attempt to understand what’s happened, they’ll also ask several factual questions like how the death occurred and why. To help them comprehend the loss, always provide direct answers.
• Provide Reassurance: After losing a loved one, your child might be afraid that someone else close to them will die. Reassure them that there is no reason to feel this way and that you and the remaining family members plan to live a long time.

Talking to children about loss can be difficult, but our compassionate team is standing by to help. We will provide information about grief counseling and handle all aspects of funeral planning — from helping to write eulogies and obituaries to determining what to do with your loved one’s remains — so you and your family have time to grieve.

To schedule an appointment to discuss funeral plans or inquire about grief counseling options available at Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, call us at (203) 373-1013. Visit us online to learn more ways to help your child manage grief, and like our local funeral home on Facebook for updated news and announcements.