Helping children to understand funerals

Children we have supported have told us that they appreciated the opportunity to be included in a funeral and that attending is something they did not regret. As long as a child is prepared for what is going to happen and what they will see, attending the funeral can be a helpful experience to help them understand the finality of death, as well as being an opportunity to grieve and say goodbye.

Grief Galaxy

Explore the alien emotions of grief in the Grief Galaxy. Work through our activity sheets to start to understand how grief makes you feel when someone important to you has died or is dying. Read more

Seven creative ways to involve children and young people in a funeral

Poppy’s, an independent funeral director, based in London shares ways to support families with children to prepare for a funeral. Read more

Explaining funerals to children: what happens at a burial?

Our short animated film explains what happens at a burial and helps answer questions children may have. Read more

Explaining funerals to children: what happens at a cremation?

Our short animated film explains what happens at a cremation and helps answer questions children may have. Read more

Supporting a child to view the body of someone who has died

Ways to prepare a child to view the body of someone important to them who has died. Read more

How do I explain a funeral to a young child?

Guidance on talking about, and preparing young children for, a funeral. Read more

Latest

What helps you when someone is unkind or jokes - Junior Youth Ambassadors
How can I support a child or young person when someone important to them has a serious illness?

Bereavement specialists share ways to support a child or young person when someone important to them has a serious illness.
What I wish my friends knew about grief - Junior Youth Ambassadors
Download our PSHE lessons on loss and bereavement

Download our free PSHE lessons and resources for schools on loss and bereavement for Key Stages 1-4. These have been developed by teachers and bereavement support workers.

Supporting bereaved children and young people

Children and young people grieve just as much as adults but they can show it in different ways. Find out how you can help them and more about child grieving.
Children's understanding of death at different ages

Guidance on children's understanding of death at different ages and stages of development.
Explaining to a child that someone has died

Guidance on explaining to a child that someone has died.
Explaining death and dying to children

Guidance for teachers and parents on talking to children about death and dying,
Grieving for a child

No parent expects to face the death of their child. See our resource for support and guidance on grieving for a child.
When a grandparent dies

The death of a grandparent is often a child or young person’s first encounter with the death of someone important. Parents have a great deal to manage when their own parent or carer dies.
Child Bereavement UK training

Child Bereavement UK designs and delivers training for professionals in health and social care, education, the emergency services and the voluntary and corporate sectors, equipping them to provide the best possible care to bereaved families.
Contact us

Contact details for our Helpline, departments and services.
Adults bereaved as children

How being bereaved as a child can affect your life as an adult and where you can find support.
When your baby dies

When a baby lives only a short time or dies before birth due to miscarriage, SUDIC, stillbirth or a painful decision to end the pregnancy, people may assume that the loss is not important. This is simply not the case.