It is important to take into account the child's age when deciding to be more direct about coping with sickness and death. These are general guidelines, but they can help you decide how to best approach each of your children.
Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer: Dealing With a Parent`s Terminal Illness
TOPICS
- Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer: Dealing With a Parent`s Terminal Illness
- Why should I tell my children I`m dying?
- When should children be told that a parent might die?
- How can I explain death to young children?
- Are there differences in issues depending on whether the sick parent is a mother, father, or other caregiver?
- What if I am the only parent and have a terminal illness?
- How do children differ by age in dealing with illness and death?
- Infants or very young children
- Children age 3 to 5
- Children age 6 to 8
- Children age 9 to 12
- Teens
- When death is near, should children be involved in the actual event?
- How can children be prepared for the memorial ritual or funeral?
- What other factors influence how a child understands a parent`s death?
- How are children affected by the surviving parent`s grief?
- Spiritual and religious beliefs may help comfort children
- How should your child`s school be included?
- Additional resources
- References
Next Topic
Infants or very young children
How do children differ by age in dealing with illness and death?
Last Medical Review: 06/08/2010
Last Revised: 06/08/2010
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