An Australian expert explained the best way to tell their children about the queen’s death, revealing that parents should “be honest” and “show their emotions” when they break the news.
The world mourned the death of Her Majesty at the age of 96 last Thursday, with many parents revealing that their children are asking questions about the historic event.
Margaret Rice, editor of the Good Pain Website, said in an interview with Daily Mail Australia that it is “normal” for children to “ask a lot of questions” about the death of the royal family and that parents “should be as simple and honest as possible”. ””When they explained what had happened.
An expert explained the best way to tell your children about the queen’s death, revealing that parents should be “honest” and “show their emotions” when they deliver the news. Pictured: A child lays flowers outside Buckingham Palace in London as she mourns Her Majesty’s World
“Children experience pain and loss from an early age,” she explains.
“They want to talk a little bit about it and they may repeat questions, you might think you’ve answered questions about it, but it comes back in a different way and that’s normal.
“They don’t understand the finitude of death well when they’re very young, they don’t elaborate like adults do,” he added.
Margaret of Sydney also said it’s common for a young child to “ask a lot of questions” when a great-grandparent dies, but every child will behave differently.
The world mourned Her Majesty’s death on Thursday at the age of 96, and many parents have revealed that their children are asking many questions about the historic event. Her Majesty is pictured meeting children in Melbourne in 2011
“Another child of the same age in the same family may react very differently,” he said.
“It’s all different, if your child just wants to talk, meet him where he is, be patient when he asks questions.”
He added that things “will gradually change” as children get older, but that curiosity is normal at any age.
“If you’re upset about it, don’t think you have to pretend you’re not,” she added.
“Likewise, don’t pretend to be sad when you’re not.
Margaret of Sydney (pictured) said it’s common for a young child to “ask a lot of questions” about whether they’re grandparents or grandparents, but every child will behave differently.
“Many people around the world will feel like they lost a grandmother living abroad.
“Regardless of the child’s age, it’s important to be honest with your children about your feelings.
“The simplest way is to say ‘he died’, make sure you use the word dead and die and be direct.
Margaret added that the monarch’s death was a “significant opportunity” to “introduce children to the idea of death”, especially if they had not yet experienced the loss of one of their families.
“Use very simple explanations, say ‘the person has stopped breathing,'” she said.
‘If you are religious, you may want to bring the concepts of life after death to your liking. You could say they are realigning themselves with God.
“But questions about heaven can be more confusing for children. Children may think that heaven is too full and have nightmares about all those corpses in heaven.
Margaret added that if you put forward the idea of heaven, you still have to explain what death is in a “technical sense.”
“You don’t have to worry and make it ugly. You can draw parallels with the death of pets.
“Our understanding of what children understand about things like death is constantly changing, but in general, the younger children are, the less they can understand.”
“When you’re young, you can use picture books and storybooks to explain this.”
‘Make sure you accept their loss’: grief expert says ‘check kids out how they are’
Fiona McCallum, managing director of Seasons for Growth, which supports children and youth in Australia who are struggling with the experiences of change, loss and grief, said it was “completely normal” for children to react physically and mentally to the loss of a community. figure”.
“The biggest benefit kids learn when they experience loss is that they’re not the only ones with great feelings,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
“We focus on building knowledge about the experience of change and loss, and as adults and parents we need to be safe people to respond to.”
Fiona added that being honest with children is “very important”.
A crowned boy leaves a vase of flowers with other tributes at the doors of The Long Walk in front of Windsor Castle as the world mourns the queen’s passing
“If we don’t fill in the blanks, the kids will create their own versions of the story.
“There are really some basic concepts when talking to kids, it’s about accepting their loss.
“Adults should be someone who wants to support and nurture them.
“Everyone reacts differently, but be curious and inquisitive and ask the kids anything they can share and keep checking to see how they are doing.”
Flowery tributes to the Queen continue in London’s Green Park
Fiona also said it is “very normal” to have “great feelings” after an event that “shakes” our world, noting that East Australian children may be more accustomed to what has happened in recent years.
“We’ve had fires, floods and Covid.
‘Little boys bought a lot of changes and losses.
“It’s about realizing that, as adults, we can maintain strong supportive relationships as adults.
“There are many things that are out of our control. But being there to support the children.
“We will all have experience and children will be in and out of pain.
“Pain is hard work. But this is a natural and normal reaction,” he said.
Source: Daily Mail
