How do you explain death to a child?

I'm an atheist also, but I want my children to be able to learn and explore and decide for themselves what is right for them, so I do probably have an influence from my being an atheist, but I do not indoctrinate them to be atheists, just as I would not do if I was religious in some way. I came to my atheism on my own and they deserve the same.

A really excellent book is: "Raising Freethinkers" by Dale McGowan.

First off, I take my kids to Science World since the preschool years (it's an interactive science museum), so that brings up lots of opportunities and ways to talk about death (since there is a lot of stuff about the natural life cycles as well as info about dinosaurs and extinction.

I told my children that death is a natural part of life. Everyone is born and everyone eventually dies. Hopefully, in the best circumstances, people do not die until they are very old and have lived a long life. Because they are children, I told them that people can live to be around 100 years old (because that is such a big number for them). I talked about how long 100 years is and we talked about life and everything a person can do and experience in 100 years. I told them that when it is their time to die, they will have lived a long and happy life and will be at peace with saying good bye. I told them they would have children and grandchildren and maybe even great grandchildren and nieces and nephews that will continue on, after they are gone, and that they will always live on in people's memories, the impact they had on the world and in the stories that people tell about them. I talked about how they will go back into the earth and all the ways they will be part of the earth. This is when getting out some good, and amazing science info is very helpful and makes it an amazing, learning process. I told them that parents usually die before the children because they are older, but that I won't die until they are all grown up, and old themselves and are parents or grandparents even. But, I talked about how life is uncertain and sometimes there is tragedy and people die sooner than they should. They have friends that lost their mother already. I told them that it is sad when that happens, but the people we lose live on in our hearts and memories and become part of the earth again. That even though it is painful and sad and tragic, everyone can handle pain and suffering and will eventually heal and be able to continue on with their own lives, remembering the person, missing them, but not feeling the pain as deeply. But, |I explained it is better not to live in fear of things like that.

I think that about sums it up.

Oh, I also tell them that people have a lot of different beliefs about what happens after death. I tell them a little bit about that. And I say that I do not believe those things, but no one really knows, so they can take their time to learn and explore and decide for themselves what they believe.

I have recently had to have a death conversation with my 3 children(5, 10, 11) as their dad has been diagnosed with uncurable cancer. My answer to death questions is to tell them that everybody will die at sometime but we will never know when. even in daddy's case it is most likely that it will be the cancer but nobody can say when. we discussed that people can die because they are very sick or if they get very badly hurt in an accident etc. Sometimes people just die. It was a very hard conversation to have and am still not really sure of the depth of understanding of each child (one is autistic) but I tried to be as honest as possible without frightening them. Our conversation went quite well I think and I have told them they can talk to me about anything when ever they want to, however none of them has mentioned it since. As we do have belief in a religion we also talked about heaven a little.
In general I would say be honest and keep it simple and obviously age appropriate, you may find books at the library about talking to children about death. Before we spoke too our children we read a macmillian booklet on talking to children which was very helpful.

Hope this helps

Despite me being athiest, I think if a child asked me about death I would say a few different options and let the child choose which one they liked best.

I would say what I believe in, in a gentle way. I like the way quirkytizzy said it. But I would also say, "And some people believe in a place called Heaven." "Some people believe you have a soul that lives on." "Some people believe you start all over again as a new baby." Etc.

What a great answer. I think this would be a great way to explain it to him. Even though I'm an athiest, I would never hinder him from having his own beliefs. I want him to know that there are different options and opinions and he is able to decide for himself what he believes in.

I think this is the best answer so far also.

I am not an atheist, but I do believe people are entitled to live their lives making informed choices.

It is never too young for an inquiring mind to be given some choices in relation to life.

When children start school they are taught many different things from the teachers and their peers and as parents we have to guide them but allow them to understand all the choices.

A difficult subject but you sound like a very caring parent I am sure you will find a good way to tackle the subject in a constructive way x

As for being afraid of death, you can if you want to. I see no point in thinking about it at all, except when it's time to buy life insurance. Nothing's guaranteed, right? Except death and taxes. And not even in that order.