Helping children with the death of a pet

A child's first experience with death is often the loss of a pet. This can be a traumatic experience, but it's also a time to learn to cope with the grief and pain that comes with losing someone who brought them love and happiness.

Some parents try to spare their child by not talking about the pet's death or by not honestly dealing with what has happened. Pretending that the animal ran away, or "went to sleep" can make a child feel even more confused, frightened and betrayed when the truth is finally learned. It's better to tell the truth and provide opportunities to grieve.

If the decision is...