It’s natural to want to protect children. However, according to Hebbronville, TX, funeral homes, funerals do not necessarily have to be a danger to innocence. 

If you have kids close to someone who died, they have the right to be involved in their sendoff. 

Funerals can be a confusing time for kids. Nonetheless, you can make things easier for them by keeping things simple and engaging them truthfully along the way. 

Read on for helpful tips on including children in the funeral of someone they love. 

Prepare them 

Depending on how close the children in question are to the deceased, they may be naturally curious about what happens to the late person now. They may have questions about the body and what all the ‘fuss’ is about. 

Whether or not these questions come up, explain to them in a way they can understand what happens at funerals and how this one is special. 

Since every family is unique, you will have to use your own words in line with the principles and beliefs the children are being raised on. 

After this conversation, you can leave it up to them to decide if they would like to be there. More often than not, the answer is yes. 

Ask the child what they would like to do during the funeral service 

After preparing a child for what to expect at a funeral, you can further familiarize them with the concept by letting them contribute to the process. 

You want them to participate without being hit by the details all at once. Children may feel more comfortable if you ask what they would like to do rather than deciding for them. Or you might suggest possible roles they can take on as appropriate for their age. 

For instance, a young child may want to share flowers or read a poem. An older child could read something or play a song during the service. 

Kids can help make a scrapbook with family pictures, draw something, select funeral music, flowers, and memorial items for display at the funeral home. 

Children who are convinced they don’t want to go to the funeral can also participate in the above ways. 

Let them know it’s okay to feel their feelings 

Everyone grieves in their own way, even children. The event’s seriousness shouldn’t detract from the fact that funerals bring up raw emotions regardless of how prepared one is. 

It helps to have someone who shares in their grief to facilitate processing what they’re feeling without having to worry about social expectations. 

Perhaps an older family member can hang around them as support when they don’t want to be alone. 

Many cultures have family-focused funerals where each member is given a specific task during the service or made responsible for a certain ritual. 

With children, it is beneficial in the long run not to deny them the chance to participate in such a once-in-a-lifetime event as their loved one’s funeral. 

You want to balance protecting a child’s innocence and making them feel included, especially in this case. Our funeral home in Hebbronville, TX, offers resources on children and grief along with our services. We will be happy to put you in touch when you visit or call us today.