When we die

[Sombrero]

my 12 year old asked me what happens when we die... we are dead for billions of years.... how do you calm their fears?

 

[calorific]

Get him an ipad? That'll take his mind off things for a while

 

[conny]

The same way you can cure my curiosity as to how your spelling has dramatically improved once more.

 

[breadnbutter]

get him a new testament bible, its the good news.

 

[big-all]

my 12 year old asked me what happens when we die... we are dead for billions of years.... how do you calm their fears?

the only answer is the one that fits within what you believe and what lies you are prepared to tell your kids to comfort them

 

[chapeau]

They are going to die, no doubt about it, may as well get them used to that at an early age. Modern attitudes to death are all wrong.

 

[masona]

my 12 year old asked me what happens when we die... we are dead for billions of years.... how do you calm their fears?

the only answer is the one that fits within what you believe and what lies you are prepared to tell your kids to comfort them

It's difficult but I think it's best to tell them truth rather than lie otherwise children will find lying is acceptable (?)

There's plenty of info on the net of what to say, children do have a fair understanding of death as they see dead animals etc, I think I've told my kids it's a very very very long time so enjoy life to the full.

 

[ellal]

I think I've told my kids it's a very very very long time so enjoy life to the full.

Indeed...

Death is inevitable, so don't worry about it!

But equally, don't exclude them from the experience when someone in the family dies...

And the biggest no-no is to say death is just like going to sleep for a long time - that'll give them problems for ages!

 

[securespark]

It is the only given in life. It does not matter who you are, what class, how much money you have...You WILL die.

My kids have asked the same.

It's tricky.

The oldest asked a good few years ago what you can do when you're dead. I tried to explain it like this:

I said, you can't see, hear, talk, move, think, eat or breathe.

He was most worried about not being able to breathe....

 

[calorific]

Just get your kids on here and ask them to argue a point with joe90. After a couple of hours, they'll happily embrace death with open arms

 

[ellal]

The oldest asked a good few years ago what you can do when you're dead. I tried to explain it like this:

I said, you can't see, hear, talk, move, think, eat or breathe.

He was most worried about not being able to breathe....

That's like telling them death is like being buried alive!

You might think that was helpful, but that is a wrong approach!

 

[calorific]

I think the best thing is to admit that nobody really knows, but explain the different opinions and that it's up to them to go with whatever one they feel most relaxed about (providing of course that you don't mention the need to blow up a load of innocent bystanders on their way out to get a "reward" of sh@gging a load of virgins )

 

[joinerjohn]

The best introduction to the concept of death for children is to buy them a small pet. Mouse/hamster etc which could live a few years before popping it's clogs. Perhaps a cat or a dog after that. Also teaches them a bit of responsibility (by looking after the pet).
Personally, I don't believe death is something to be frightened of (after all it is the very final act of life) You can't escape the inevitable.

 

[securespark]

The oldest asked a good few years ago what you can do when you're dead. I tried to explain it like this:

I said, you can't see, hear, talk, move, think, eat or breathe.

He was most worried about not being able to breathe....

That's like telling them death is like being buried alive!

You might think that was helpful, but that is a wrong approach!

I should add that I prefixed that sentence with, "Your body stops working."....

 

[Harbourwoodwork]

It is the only given in life. It does not matter who you are, what class, how much money you have...You WILL die.

My kids have asked the same.

It's tricky.

The oldest asked a good few years ago what you can do when you're dead. I tried to explain it like this:

I said, you can't see, hear, talk, move, think, eat or breathe.

He was most worried about not being able to breathe....

BLOODY HELL