education.com
asks:
Q:
Any advice for a 5 year old questioning death and being afraid of dying? Is this normal?
Asked via tweet from "mzlovelyness" to JustAsk Expert Dr. Laura Kauffman (@ChildPsych) on Twitter. http://www.twitter.com/childpsych
In Topics:
My child's growth and development, Children and stress, Communicating with my child (The tough talks)
> 60 days ago
What the Expert Says:
Resources:
Additional Answers (1)
This can be very normal. This child may have just made the developmental discovery wherein he/she now realizes that death is real, it is forever and that it happens to everyone. Therefore, the child may realize that he/she will someday die, too. (I would wonder if there was a recent death of a close loved one for this child. This could certainly contribute to the fears.)
The best approach to this is to tell the truth, which is that every living thing dies. HOWEVER, most people die when they are very, very, very, very, very, very old. We have very good medical care that can help us alive for a very long time.
If this is explained in a developmental appropriate manner and the child continues to have a great amount of fear over an extended period of time, then there may be underlying anxiety issues that can respond well to treatment. If anxiety is found to be an issue, the earlier it is treated, the better outcomes the child may have.
Wendy Young, LMSW, BCD
http://www.kidlutions.com
http://www.twitter.com/kidlutions
http://www.facebook.com/kidlutions
(Thanks, Louise, for sharing the other links from the interview on dealing with grieving children, as well as my workbook information. Thanks, also, for translating some of the interview into American Sign Language.)
The best approach to this is to tell the truth, which is that every living thing dies. HOWEVER, most people die when they are very, very, very, very, very, very old. We have very good medical care that can help us alive for a very long time.
If this is explained in a developmental appropriate manner and the child continues to have a great amount of fear over an extended period of time, then there may be underlying anxiety issues that can respond well to treatment. If anxiety is found to be an issue, the earlier it is treated, the better outcomes the child may have.
Wendy Young, LMSW, BCD
http://www.kidlutions.com
http://www.twitter.com/kidlutions
http://www.facebook.com/kidlutions
(Thanks, Louise, for sharing the other links from the interview on dealing with grieving children, as well as my workbook information. Thanks, also, for translating some of the interview into American Sign Language.)
