Losing someone you love is always tremendously difficult. There is often an outspoken grief as well as an underlying sadness that is constantly there yet hard to vocalise. For children, this can be even more challenging because they may not fully understand what they are going through. That’s why you might be unsure whether taking them to a funeral is the right choice. Here are some of the things to consider when making this difficult decision. 

It Depends On Their Age

It is worth thinking about the age of your child. Children don’t understand the concept of death until they are at least seven and often not until they are 10. This means before 10 a child may not understand why people are sad about someone passing away. To them, it could be clear that the person who is gone will return one day. Older children have a far more comprehensive understanding of both death and mortality. 

It Can Help Them Move Past The Loss 

One of the best reasons to let your children attend the funeral of a loved one or a family member is that it can help them move past the loss and understand what they are feeling more openly. It is common for children to fixate on loss and it may lead to a lasting sadness that they can’t fully comprehend. This can impact everything from their behaviour to their school performance and may ultimately cause them to lash out at people around them. A funeral won’t be easy for a child of any age but it is often considered the healthiest way to grieve and say goodbye. You may also want to contact the funeral home and discuss how they can help make a funeral easier for your children too. 

It Allows You To Mourn Together As A Family

One of the benefits of letting your children attend a funeral is that you can share the moment together. This can help people gain the support they need because they are surrounded by those who love them. There could be children in the family who do not know how to express their emotions or try to directly attempt to hide how they are feeling about the loss of a loved one. If this is the case then it can be useful knowing there are people around that they can turn to. 

It’s A Personal Choice 

Ultimately, this is always going to be a personal choice. There’s no right answer and it really depends on what you think your children need, what they are capable of understanding and what is best for your family. There is no harm in avoiding taking your children to a funeral. There are lots of alternative steps that you can take to say goodbye. You may want to celebrate the life of a loved one with your children instead of mourning their death. This can be far easier to manage particularly for them. 

There will always be pros and cons for taking children to funerals, it is all about what is best for you and your family.