Should a Child Go to a Service?

Seeing your child dealing with the loss of a loved one can leave you feeling helpless and unsure of how to offer them the help they need. One option that people consider but that you may not be sure about is to take your child to the funeral or memorial service. This can help the child get closure and say goodbye to the person they lost. If that is something you are considering but are not sure about, directors of funeral homes in Philadelphia, PA want you to consider a few things.

A child who was very close to the person they lost will likely want to attend. You want to consider this as you decide on whether or not they should go to the service. If the person who died spent a lot of time with your child, your child will feel the loss even more. This means that they will likely benefit from the service. Keep that in mind as you choose.

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.

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.

These are some of the most important considerations you have to have when deciding if your child is ready to go to a funeral or memorial service. You always want to consider whether your child wants to go, how close they were to the person, and even how much they comprehend of what death means. All of these things will have an impact on your choice. If you still have questions about this, you can turn to a Philadelphia, PA funeral home like us. We have years of experience, and we are here to help you find the exact options you need for your loved ones. Give us a call right now or visit us today to speak with an expert.