Children: helping a child cope with death How to tell children of a death Death breaks our hearts; it can be hard enough to explain things to ourselves, let alone a child, and to work through our own grief. On this page, we suggest ways to tell a child of the death of a loved one. How to help children of all ages through grief Children of different ages react to the death of a loved one very differently. Here, we cover how to explain to children, from infants to teenage years, that a death has occurred and how to help them through the grieving process. Helping children cope with funerals A death in the family brings up many questions about life for a child. One of the biggest at the start is, "What is this funeral thing I keep hearing about?" It's best to explain what funerals are, and involve your child in the planning. Helping children through grief whilst grieving yourself Grieving can be especially overwhelming for parents. You not only have to find the strength to deal with your own grief, but you have to support your children through it. How do you provide hope to your child when you've lost your own? How to explain suicide to your child The grief and sadness that you feel when a loved one dies by suicide is also felt by child suicide survivors. Do not be afraid to face suicide and the grieving process directly and honestly with children; read this page for guidance. Helping children cope with pet loss There is something deeply profound in the grief that some children feel following the death of a pet. Adults can more adequately distinguish the difference between their love for people and pets, but for a child, the lines can be less clear. They may need your help to cope. Sponsored links Further sources of information You may find our other articles in the Grief Library section helpful too. Visit our Amazon store to find grief books for children.