How to Talk to Your Kids about the Death of a Pet
For a child, the loss of a pet may be their first experience with death. With a bit of care, you can make this sad time easier.
You Will Need
- Honesty
- Patience
- Time to talk
- Children's books about death (optional)
Steps
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Step 1
Explain what happened
Tell the child about the death of the pet in clear, direct, and age-appropriate language. Don't avoid the words "death" or "dying." Euphemisms may make things more difficult for your child to understand.
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Be prepared to answer questions about what happens to a pet after it dies. Your reply will depend on your beliefs and your child’s age -- have some optimistic answers ready.
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Step 2
Show the pet
If your child is not afraid, show the dead pet. Some young children can accept the loss of a pet more readily if they can see the animal.
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Step 3
Be available
Tell your child you will always be available to talk about the pet -- and follow through on your promise.
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Be ready for a wide variety of emotions from your child. Some kids may cry, while some may not be ready to "process" the event for a while.
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Step 4
Commemorate the loss
Many children feel better about the loss of a pet if they can participate in some kind of farewell ceremony for the animal. If a backyard burial is appropriate, help your child arrange it. If a 'memorial' service would work better, then help with that.
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A children’s librarian can help you find books about pet deaths. Reading these can be very helpful for your child.
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Step 5
Talk
Talk about the loss. It can be hard to discuss, but your child will remember your compassion and understanding long after the memory of the pet has faded.
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The Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York was the nation’s first pet cemetery.
