However, a child will not necessarily grieve in the same way that we are accustomed to seeing in adults. Clinicians note that children may appear perfectly happy and normal at times and simply regressed and angry at other times, rather than sad. These are normal but much easier for parents to deal with if they are expected. Funerals and other formal grief rituals aid in keeping the deceased in memory and provide occasions for the bereaved to be supported in their mourning. Excluding children from family grief rituals such as a funeral can be devastating, leading to a sense of isolation or even guilt.
Children know that an important event is happening that they are inexplicably forbidden to attend.
On the other hand, forcing children to sit in a room with hysterical adults or to kiss a dead body can leave lasting traumatic memories. It is best to let children participate in the decision whether they should attend the funeral. If possible, this should be a close friend or family member who does not need to attend the funeral and can be fully available to the child. Mourning rituals are common in many religious and cultural groups. These rituals provide a structure for grief that can be helpful to both adults and children.