We as adults are expected to help our youngsters understand and cope with their own grief and bewilderment. Death in any form, even pet death, must be shared by all members of the family. Children are often forgotten by grieving adults. Silence and secrecy deprive them of an important opportunity to share grief. When we in our understandable heartache - over look children's feelings, we heighten their sense of isolation.
Reality is replaced with psychological defenses.
Children need our help to sort our their emotions. When we can discuss death with children openly, we enable them to live more freely. We regard death as an integral part of life. It is as simple and as real as that. Self deception is of no avail.