My 2.5 y.o. wants to know, "what is dead?"?

Question

What does it mean when something is dead? I told her, it means when something is all done. When something is dead it stops working. That seems insufficient.

Answer 1

I think that is a good answer.  I remember from one of my early childhood classes that kids under a certain age (i'm sure it's under 3) will not really know what death is even if they're told.  It's more like they know that they're gone, but regradless of what you tell them they think that person/animal/whatever will come back within time.  They can't grasp the reality of death.

Answer 2

well depends on if something has been dead that she seen. my son who is now five asked why is the cat dead on the road when he was two. and i said because god wanted to take that kitty to a new home where peace is now to this day, when he sees dead animals usually on the road. he says they are with god in a new home. otherwise your question is good. does not seem insuficient.

Answer 3

I can't tell you what to say, because it depends on your beliefs. I am religious, so i would talk about when you die, you go to heaven, that Jesus died for our sins, so we can all go there if we believe in him, and so forth.

Answer 4

This may sound harsh, but the only way to truly understand death is to see it.  For example if you kill a bug in your house like a fly or a cockroach, and explain that it's dead . . . or you pass by a dead bug/animal on a nature walk (which you're bound to do).  I also have childrens books that discuss the subject, and the movie, "The Lion King" and other movies can further the understanding.  I am not one of those parents that thinks parents should shelter their children from the concept at any age.

Answer 5

a 2.5 yr old does not need anymore explanation then that....she is not even old enough to understand the concept and giving her too much too soon might b somewhat frightening for a small child....

james that is the worst thing to say to a child..for they then often develop a fear of sleeping

Answer 6

Read through these for some ideas on how to explain (though you did well!)

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/arc...

http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/0_how...

http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/fe...

Answer 7

You could say:"It is like sleeping, except you never ever wake up, you don't dream, and you have no sense of feelings (hearing an alarm clock, being touched...) while "asleep"."