If a child has not experienced the death of someone important before, death may be unfamiliar or confusing.

Clear, concrete language can help.

A child can be told that when someone dies, their body stops working. They no longer see or feel anything, they do not feel pain, and a person who has died cannot come alive again.

The words you choose can be adapted to your child’s age and level of understanding while still being truthful about what has happened.