How to Talk to a 2 Year Old About the Death of a Pet
The loss of a pet is traumatic for anyone in your family, but explaining it to your toddler can be especially difficult. Two year olds need an explanation that they can understand as well as the modeling of your behavior in learning how to cope with the death of the family pet.
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Instructions
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Include your child in the euthanasia process if that is what you choose for your pet. Children can better understand the loss of your pet by observing the procedure and your emotions.
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Use language your toddler can understand to explain honestly what happened to your pet in a short and simple way. It is OK to use matter-of-fact language like "death" and "dead, " but don't expect your young child to fully grasp the permanency of the loss.
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Avoid using the phrase "put to sleep" or over-emphasize your pet's old age or illness. This could instill fear in your child of sleeping, growing old or sickness.
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Answer any questions truthfully, if your child asks. Use your own beliefs to explain where your pet is now, be it heaven, reincarnation, or an honest "I don't know."
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References
- Photo Credit sadness image by Adam Zdebel from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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I am very concerned by the first point in this article in relation to the title. I have read the references and it is not clear at what age they recommend a child being exposed to the process of euthanasia. Yet this article is directed to parents of 2 year olds. As the writer does not have the appropriate qualifications in child psychology, I think it may be worth revisiting this point.
