title: Talking with children about death.
abstract: Nurses are often asked to respond to children's questions about death and to advise parents and teachers on how to discuss this topic with children. This article reviews the concepts that children must learn to understand and cope with a death. Cognitive limitations of young children that may result in guilt and misinterpretations are reviewed. Advice is provided on how nurses can assist infants, young children, and adolescents in dealing with deaths of significant others or their own impending death. The importance of identifying and addressing the personal needs of the helper are underscored.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schonfeld
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001601:Bereavement; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D003643:Death; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010371:Pediatric Nursing