A common question among family members is whether they should bring their children to a funeral. You might be struggling with this issue. The decision being made depends on the age and maturity of the child being considered. For example, you might not put young ones in a situation that can become a traumatic experience.
Why should children attend funerals?
Children should be allowed to attend a funeral or burial because these types of events are crucial family rituals which teach them about the concept of life and death. If the deceased is someone they know, it gives them the chance to say goodbye.
At the same time, you should never try to force a child to attend a funeral . Always make it a point to give them the option and if they say no, try to delve deeper to find out the reasons as to why they don’t want to be a part of this event. If there are questions or fears, you should address them, helping them overcome these obstacles.
Preparation is key
As the adult, you need to make sure your child knows what is going to happen at the funeral, especially when it is his or her first time. Talk about how the room is going to be set, what kind of behavior is expected, even the appearance of the deceased if there is going to be an open casket.
Your child should know that certain individuals at the funeral are going to cry because they miss the person. Let your child know that it is okay to cry or not to cry at the funeral. At the same time, there will be some people who laugh or smile as they recall the memories shared with the deceased.
Be sure to pay extra attention to your child during this type of event. You don’t want your child to feel like he or she is forgotten or you are neglecting his or her needs.
Thanks for reading,
Karen
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