According to Lyness (2016), tools to use when informing a loved one that their parent has died include:
Simple clear words
- Be straight forward
- For example: “dad died today”
Listen and comfort
Millar, L. (2018). Talk About Death [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.independentage.org/we-need-to-talk-about-death/talking-about-death/why-you-should-never-be-too-polite-to-talk-about-death
- Some will cry, some will be angry, others will continue on with their everyday life
- Being there for them is the best thing you can do
Put emotions into words
- Say what you are feeling and thinking
- Telling them how you’re feeling will help
Tell your child what to expect
- How things will change
Give your child a role
- Let the kids decide if they want to take part or not
Help the child remember
- Draw pictures
- Share stories
Give your child time to heal keep conversations ongoing
Start the conversation as soon as possible
According to Buschardt and Taylor (2011), it is extremely important to be developmentally appropriate when informing a loved one that their parent has died. Children will enter new developmental stages as they age and may require more extensive conversations about the death of their parent. It is important to have open conversation with children as they age to ensure that they are receiving information appropriate to their developmental changes (Buschardt & Taylor, 2011).