Why is it that people go to great lengths not to let little kids know what death is? It's completely ridiculous? What are you going to do when your sons grampa, whom he loves with all his heart, dies? Will you tell him or not?

Sure, telling him might scare him a little, and provoke 27378 questions over a few months, but it's better for him to know that his grampa died. If he doesn't find out, he'll suddenly realize that he hasn't seen him in a while, and he'll think that his grampa hates him, or that he did something wrong.

Hardly a catch-22, best to explain it, even if they're only like 6 or 7. Things die, it happens, nobody likes it when a loved one dies, but it still happens. We all understand that we die eventually.

I think kids should know about it. Ofcourse we dont want them to get hurt and sad but when they know about it it makes it easier for them and they'll somewhat know what to expect when and if a loved one dies.

Yeah kids need to know about death, death is reality and its better to have them prepared for it than to be knocked senseless and confused when they get to experience it. As long as you explain it in the correct way to get them to understand as opposed to torturing their poor little minds then fine.

I agree that it is ridiculous keeping it from children, they should be sat down and explained to kids, naturally we try to keep our kids from upset but some things need to be known and this is one of those things in life that we have to prepare children for.

I remember my aunt telling my cousin that my grandpa was sleeping at his funeral. Now that I look back at it, I think it would've been better to tell him before hand because kids will get over it and accept it eventually. I don't remember my mom specifically telling me exactly the process of death, but I understood over time. I think it could make kids appreciate things better and realize that death is a part of life.

Telling them that they're sleeping will cause problems if grandma drops dead in front of them from a heart-attack or collapses from a stroke while they're staying over there for the weekend.

Mom: "Hi son, you alright?"

Son: "Yep"

Mom: "How's granny?"

Son: "She's asleep."

Mom: "Okay, I'll call tomorrow evening before I come pick you up, be good."

Son: "Okay mummy"

Yeah. VERY smart thing to do.

@ Quenlin; that's probably happened on more than one occasion. Considering how many old people are at a risk of heart attack and stroke, and how many inconsiderate bosses make people work 172 hours a week despite having kids, I wouldn't be surprised if I saw it in the news tomorrow.

I dont think parents should sit there and have a discussion with their kids about death but talk about it with little things. Like mention an old pet you used to have and then when the kid asks what happened to it you can say it died. pretty soon they will understand that everything has to die someday.