With Queen Elizabeth‘s funeral around the corner, some people are wondering if the royal children will attend. The question comes up in many families. Funerals make many parents nervous. They’re events marked with such intense emotion.
As a child psychologist, I’m asked about funerals often. Here’s the guidance I generally offer.
Should parents allow children to attend a funeral"
Generally speaking, yes. Of course, this is a family-by-family decision. There are some reasons why a parent might feel it would be best in a particular situation not to allow children to attend a funeral. However, I believe that children should be allowed to go to funerals and that families should attend together if possible. Funerals are an important part of the grieving process for adults and children alike. Having a strong turnout for a funeral is a show of support for the spouse or close family of the person who passed away. Funerals allow people to feel a sense of community as well as a sense of closure or finality. Funerals allow people to grieve and this is an important part of the healing process. How do you explain a funeral to a child"
After explaining the concept of death, parents can simply say that after death, those who knew and loved the person who died will often gather together to say goodbye. Usually, this is done at a ceremony called a funeral. Funerals often take place in spiritual places like churches, synagogues, mosques and temples. This i...