Talking about death is still taboo. In many cases, in the face of illness or death of a relative or friend, children are separated without explaining the situation to them. Even when a child is sick or in the terminal stage, some families, as a rule, do not tell him any information about what is happening. Thus, in this situation, it is very easy for children to get confused in the concept of death.

However, children, like adults, need to express their emotions, fears or desires. Thus, an adult who is able to listen without lying and sensitively explain what is happening, feel that he is understood and supported, will provide him with greater security.

Good communication and honest information adapted to the needs of the child are necessary for him to resist fears, and an adult can help him. But how to talk to a child about death? At what age does a child think about death the same way as an adult?

[h2] How does a child learn the concept of death?[/h2]

Death is viewed differently depending on cognitive maturity. This means that children understand the concept of death depending on their level of development, and not their chronological age.

Three stages of the development of the concept of death are described:

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The first phase is when the concepts of separation (the deceased do not live among us after their death) and lack of movement (they remain motionless) are assimilated.
At the second stage, the concept of universality is understood (death will come to all of us) and the cessation of bodily activity, in addition to irrevocability (death has no way back) and causality, which primarily refers to causes. External (accident), and at the end of the stage, death may have an internal cause (illness).
At the last stage, the child can think about death abstractly, almost like an adult.
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As can be seen, the concept of death is defined in a multidimensional way, combining the understanding of three fundamental concepts: universality, irreversibility and cessation of bodily processes. But at about what age is each of these concepts assimilated?

[h2]When does a child acquire an idea of death?[/h2]

Taking into account the diversity of theories and generalization, an understanding of the concept of death based on five stages will be presented below:

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Initial stage (0-18 months): the child reacts to pain, discomfort and strangers. There is a fear of the absence of parents. There is no concept of time or illness.
Preschool stage (18 months - 5 years): a child at this age believes that the disease is caused by external factors or accidents. Death is a dream in which there is a loss of mobility, separation or temporary failure. This is the stage of magical thinking: the dead breathe, eat and move from place to place.
School stage (from 5 years): the child already shows curiosity about death and social relations, as well as mature understanding of time. From this age you understand that there are certain internal factors that can cause the disease. At this stage, the child thinks that death is selective, that it affects the elderly.
Between the ages of 7 and 13: the child has already formed ideas about the irreversibility, universality and permanence of death.
Adolescence: we recognize that the causes of the disease are unknown. Denial is often used as a defense against the emotional threat posed by death.
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[h2]Communication with a child about the end of life[/h2]

Talking to children about death is one of the most difficult situations. It is clear that the child has the opportunity to learn about the disease, even if you want to hide it. Therefore, it is very important to solve these problems together with them, always in accordance with their level and respecting their needs.

Using words that the child understands, pictures, stories or stories that he wants to share, we allow him to explore his fears. This will comfort, as well as provide arguments to resist the "temptation" to think that you are responsible for the death of another person because of his bad behavior.

One of the most important communication skills will be active listening, as many children talk about death through riddles, characters, stories. Teenagers sometimes do this through TV series or comics. Nonverbal communication is also important. Children can express by their posture, tone of voice or look fears or unpleasant feelings that they cannot express in words. Download the New Version of the Photo Editor Capture One 23 Crack in 2023