Often children are shielded form the knowledge of a death in the immediate family.  Psychological studies have shown that children should be given full opportunity to express their grief.  The following are suggestions on advising children of death and the funeral at different age levels.

Up to Age 2:
Infants and toddlers cannot understand death, but they do feel the loss of the one who was there to nurture and care for them.

Age 2-4:
Children at two, three or four years of age have little understanding of the meaning of death.  The death should be shared with the child either by viewing or attempting to explain what has happened.

Age 5-7:
A child of five, six or seven has a feeling for loss, but is not easy to grasp.  It must be explained.  Answer the questions in simple terms.  Let them know a death has taken place by being present at the funeral home and funeral service.  Clinical studies show that denying a child the experience of sharing his loss through emotions may result in adjustment problems later.

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