Supporting Families

Woodside Bereavement Service's Children & Young People's project support youngsters and their families.

Parents often find telling their children about a relative who has died very difficult especally if the relationship between the child and the adult had been very close.  A parent's natural first instinct is to protect the child.  It is best to use "grown up words" liked died rather than "gone to sleep", "passed away" or "gone to a better place".  Children appreciate honesty and they trust an adult to tell them the truth.   Tell them that the person can no longer feel pain, cold or heat.  Tell them that you will try to answer all their questions but that you may not be able to explain everything.