All children understand and respond to death differently.  No two children are alike.  However, some of how children understand death is based on their developmental level.

• Infants and Toddlers (Birth to 2 years): Very young children respond to their caregiver's emotions and changes in their environment.  Children at this age do not understand the meaning of death.

• Preschoolers (2 years to 5 years): Preschoolers often view death as temporary and reversible.  Children in this age range may confuse death with sleeping or being away with the expectation the person will wake up or return.  Preschoolers' thoughts are very egocentric and therefore they may believe that the death is a punishment for something they did or thought.

• School-age (5 years to 11 years): School-aged children begin to understand the irreversibility of death and that they could also die.  At this age, children may begin to show interest in the biological aspects of death and the cultural events surrounding a death (i.e. funeral, wake, etc.).

• Teens (12 years to 18 years): At this developmental level, teens are beginning to think more like adults.  Teens are able to comprehend not only the physical aspects of death, but also the emotional impact of the loss.

 

Information taken from the website Children’s Hospital-Greenville Health System