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Developmental
Concepts of Death: Children 2 to 5 years of age
- Think death is reversible; people can die and
come back to life.
- Believe the dead body can continue to think, feel, see, and hear.
- Believe in magical powers-that they can "will or wish" someone
back to life.
- May have nightmares, increased fears, and anxiety.
- May act out aggressively and/or regress.
- May ask the same question over and over.
- May feel some responsibility for the death, or see death as a
punishment for something they did.
- May have a harder time with feelings of being left out than feelings
of sadness. It is very important to include young children in the process
of death and bereavement.
- Take your words literally. To a young child "gone to sleep" means
gone to bed and "lost" means can't find. Always use the
words "dead," "died," or "dying."
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