How to Prepare a Child for a Viewing at a Funeral Home
After the death of a loved one, it is not uncommon for a family to hold a viewing at the funeral home. The majority of funeral homes in Uniopolis, OH offer viewings as a part of their funeral packages. A viewing is separate from the funeral and allows friends and family to view the body prior to burial or cremation. Viewing the deceased body of a loved one can be overwhelming for children. Use these tips to help a child prepare to attend a viewing:
Explain Death in an Age-Appropriate Manner
Prior to attending a viewing at a funeral home, take the time to talk to your child about death and explain what it is. Make sure that you use terms and definitions that your child will understand. Give your child the opportunity to ask questions, and answer those questions to the best of your ability. If your family is religious, you can incorporate things from your faith to help explain death.
Tell Your Child What to Expect When Viewing the Body of the Deceased
It can be jarring to see a deceased body for the first time, especially when someone doesn’t know what to expect. You can help your child by letting him or her know that their loved one will not look the same as they did in life.
You can tell your child that your loved one looks like he or she is sleeping, but he or she will not wake up. Let your child know that it is okay to touch the body, but it may feel cool. The more your child knows what to expect, the better.
Support Your Child During When Approaching the Casket
In most cases, the casket is placed on the opposite side of the room from the entrance during a viewing. When your child is ready, escort him or her to the casket and provide support. Your child will likely feel more comfortable if you are by his or her side. Allow your child to spend as much time at the casket as he or she wishes. Some children may only want to make a quick glance, while others may want to spend more time saying goodbye.
Don’t Force Your Child to View the Body of the Deceased
Some people find viewings to be very beneficial. It is believed that viewing the body of a deceased loved one can help bring closure while giving the opportunity to say a final goodbye. But, that doesn’t mean that everyone is comfortable with open casket viewings.
Before going to the viewing, tell your child that the decision to view the body or not is completely up to him or her. If you arrive at the viewing and your child decides not to approach the casket, do not force the issue. Allow her child to do what he or she is most comfortable with.
Funeral homes in Uniopolis, OH do their best to ensure that viewings are as comfortable as possible for the immediate family of the deceased, as well as all guests. Preparing the youngest guests for an open casket viewing in advance can make the event less stressful.
