How to Help Children Understand the Cremation of a Loved One

Your child might need to attend cremation services in Auburn, MA because a friend or family member passed away. Now you find yourself with the difficult task of explaining cremation to a child. This is the time to serve as both a caregiver and role model. Attending cremation services for the deceased will go a long way towards helping the two of you heal. But cremation services can often be a scary event for young children. For this reason, it’s important to be a guide for them throughout the grieving process. Explain the cremation process at an age-appropriate level. Learn how to guide a child through the process of death, grieving, and healing.

Satisfy Your Child’s Natural Curiosity About Death

Death is a taboo topic in some families. While a parent will happily help their child out with their science homework, that same parent might be spooked at the prospect of explaining the cremation process to their young child. When the cremation services of a loved one are coming up, encourage your child to ask you about death and cremation. Give them honest answers in a way that the child will understand.

Follow Your Child’s Lead

Pay attention to the behaviors of your child in the days leading up to the cremation services in Auburn, MA. This can tell you about the death and cremation questions your child is holding in their head. Only tell the child exactly what they need to know regarding death and cremation services in Auburn, MA. You don’t want to overwhelm them with fear while they are grieving.

Learn About the Cremation Process Yourself

Many adults don’t know what exactly happens during the cremation process. A cremation will take place at a facility known as a crematorium. Before cremation, the deceased is placed in either a cremation container or casket and then put into the cremation chamber. The chamber door then gets sealed by the operator, who turns on the heat. Gas jets create heat within the chamber. The intense heat turns the remains to bone fragments. Once this part of the process is complete, the remains get placed in a metal tray. The remains will then get placed in a processor, where the bone fragments will get reduced to a consistency similar to coarse sand. The remains are then sealed in a plastic bag and tagged, after which they are placed in the custody of the family.

Some Methods for Explaining Cremation to a Young Child

  • Cremated remains looks just like the sand on a nearby beach

  • Because the deceased is no longer alive, they do not feel any part of the cremation process. Their soul is no longer in their body.

  • The operators at the crematorium will treat the child’s loved one with the utmost dignity and respect possible. They take their jobs very seriously and wouldn’t do anything to disrespect the dead.

Mourners of all ages want to ensure that their deceased loved one is treated with care and respect throughout the entire burial process. For more information on cremation services in Auburn, MA, call or visit our Worcester funeral home office.