Children's perception of the concept of death varies depending on their developmental characteristics and cognitive development. What to tell children about death varies depending on the age of the child. What happened after the loss; It is shaped according to the child's experiences, his/her relationship with the deceased, the environmental impact, the attitude of the family, the cause of death and the way it occurred. The appearance, duration and intensity of grief reactions in children also vary, and the way the child experiences grief may be related to the way he perceives death.
It will be useful to explain death to children intellectually, emotionally and behaviorally
Intellectual: Children's age related to the process that leads to death and they need information appropriate to their developmental level.
Emotional: Children may have difficulty defining their emotions. Therefore, the support of an adult in identifying and expressing emotions will be beneficial in this process.
Behavioral: Adults need to explain the reason for their behaviors such as wanting to be alone and crying during the mourning period. Otherwise, children may think that the mourning behaviors exhibited during this period are directed towards them. In addition, children can restrict and inhibit their own behavior during this period, and adults being good observers during this period will support children's mourning process.
Children's perception of death is realized through the meanings children attach to concepts related to death. Children may have difficulty understanding that death is the end because they are used to repetitive events. When it is not sufficiently understood that death means "the end of all functions", the child may think that the deceased will be cold and in pain where he is buried, and "who will give him food in his grave?" Questions like these show that children need to understand that their body functions stop with death. With the first years of school, children begin to understand that death is inevitable and that everyone (every living thing) will die one day. Understanding the concept of death in children is accompanied by the development of various cognitive structures. These; irreversible k is universality, dysfunctionality, causality.
Irreversibility / End: The dead person (living thing) will not come back to life
Universality / Inevitability strong>: Every living thing will die It means complete loss.
Children may experience intense anxiety that they will lose other people around them because they think about all positive and negative possibilities together and dwell on bad possibilities too much. At this point, it is important for the caregiver to make the child feel safe. Because during this period, the child will have a stronger search for trust and safety. Caregivers' sensitivity to this need will lead to a much healthier period during this period. Some children are very emotionally affected by the process of loss. The slightest decrease in interest and love they experience during this process can make them feel unhappy and demoralized, and can significantly reduce their functionality. If children receive intense love, tolerance and compassion during the period related to loss, it will help them go through this process much easier.
Each child's perception of death and the process of loss are different. By taking an approach appropriate to the psychological needs of the child, it is possible to make this difficult period easier and overcome it without leaving major negative scars for the future.
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