Help Your Child to Understand and Deal with Tragedy

How do you discuss an illness, death, or other tragic situation with a child? First, remember that every child is different and will respond differently depending on age, life experiences, and personality. Keep the child's age in mind and try to respond in developmentally appropriate ways. Be honest; don't keep the information from the child. When the child finds out (and you know it will happen eventually) he or she will be angry and hurt not to have been told. Try to anticipate your child's questions, prepare answers, and give your child time to heal.