Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Loss of queen brings first encounter with death for some children

Published 16/09/2022, 16:06
Updated 16/09/2022, 17:27
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Flowers and a teddy bear are left as a tribute to Britain's Queen Elizabeth, following her death, in Windsor, Britain, September 15, 2022. REUTERS/Paul Childs/

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Flowers and a teddy bear are left as a tribute to Britain's Queen Elizabeth, following her death, in Windsor, Britain, September 15, 2022. REUTERS/Paul Childs/

LONDON (Reuters) - The death of Queen Elizabeth and the closure of schools on the day of her funeral have meant many teachers and families have had to talk about death for the first time with young children.

Children's charities and bereavement groups have offered advice about how to have such a conversation, answer questions, and decide whether to watch her funeral together.

The queen was all the more familiar to school children because just three months ago they celebrated her Platinum Jubilee with parties and performances, or by dressing up to represent every decade of her reign. Every primary school child received a special book for the occasion.

She also appeared as a character in children's fiction and television from Roald Dahl's "The BFG" to "Peppa Pig".

"The death of a prominent figure can significantly affect children, as well as adults. This could be their first experience of death and they don't really understand it or maybe they have been bereaved and this brings up those difficult feelings again," said the Winston's Wish charity for bereaved children.

It advised using clear, age-appropriate language, explaining what death means, and giving children reassurance.

"(Children) may or may not have attended a funeral before, but could be asking you about watching the queen's funeral. It could be a good opportunity to introduce the concept of funerals to a child," the charity said.

If children do watch the funeral it suggests preparing them in advance for what they will see, talking about emotions and being mindful of the child's reactions and needs.

Charity Save the Children also suggested in a blog: "Create activities that help them process how they're feeling. This could be drawing a picture of the queen, writing a story about her life, or imagining the adventures she might have been on."

Messages and drawings from children feature prominently in the floral tributes left outside royal palaces and children have been queuing to see the queen lie in state.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A pictures shows handwritten and drawn tribute messages in respect for Britain's Queen Elizabeth, following her death, at Green Park in London, Britain September 15, 2022.  REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo

"Dear Queen Elizabeth, you have been such a loyal queen to us all. Say hello to my nannie in heaven. It would mean the world to me," wrote one nine-year-old girl on a drawing of the queen with a corgi.

"Thank you for being a lovely queen. I wish you were still with us," wrote a boy called George on a note with a heart.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.