As you start thinking about how to help a child who is dealing with the loss of a loved one, it can be crucial that you consider whether or not you should take them to the funeral or memorial service. This is not something that is easy to do. It can be important to consider a few things to ensure that your child can benefit from attending a service. Here are some things that directors of funeral homes in Sherwood, AR want you to keep in mind.
You have to pay attention to the reaction your child has when you let them know of the death. This can give you a gauge of how much they understand. If you see that they are still confused about death and are not entirely certain what it means, they are probably not ready to go to the funeral or memorial service. This can happen with children who are very young. If they go to the service, they may end up more confused than anything else. By gauging their understanding of what death is, you can get a good sense if they are ready to go to the service.
Another thing you want to remember is that how close your child was to the person can also have an impact. If they were very close, then your child may even ask to go to the service themselves without prompting. That is something that you definitely want to keep in mind. The closer they were, the more benefits the child can receive from going to the service. This can help you decide if they are ready or not.
It is important to consider if your child wants to go to the service. If they do not, you should never push your child to go, since that can cause more harm than good. You also want to keep in mind that some children may want to attend and will let you know at once. They may even want to give a eulogy or speak at the service. You should never forbid them from doing so. Do remember to ask the child again on the day of the service, since they can sometimes change their minds and not be sure of how to tell you.
All of these things can make a difference when deciding if your child is ready to go to a funeral or memorial service. You want to gauge how much they understand death and how close they were to the person who died, as well as whether or not they want to go. If you still are not sure about this, you can reach out to a Sherwood, AR funeral home like us. We are here to answer any questions you may have about this and to decide on the best options for your loved ones. Give us a call now or stop by our location today to know more about the process of grieving and making arrangements.