Ds (6.5) has recently become very anxious about the idea of death. It all started around Easter when they seem to have, alarmingly, learnt about the crucifixion at school. We have had awful problems for the past couple of months with him not sleeping at night, which seems at last to have started to improve, but he still seems very worried by the whole idea and is periodically asking very difficult questions. For example, tonight he asked whether when you were dead, if someone opened your eyes for you, you could still see. I am finding it very difficult to find the right words to reassure him, not least because I find the idea of death pretty scary myself. We are not religious and if feels wrong to talk about 'heaven' and rebirth when I don't believe in it myself. His fears appear to be more about him dying than anyone else.
Most of the books I have heard of seem to be aimed at dealing with a family member who has died, which is not something he has experienced yet.
Any idea about how I can tackle this? So far I have just stuck to the line that most people are very old when they die.
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Parenting
Comforting words about death for a troubled 6yo
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fadingfast · 18/06/2011 22:27
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