2.2 Concepts of Death at Various Ages

Children conceive of death differently than adults. Working with children, it is important to understand that a child's reaction to death depends upon what they think causes death. Their thinking about how and why people die changes as they become older and finally acquire a mature concept of death. Read this chart prepared by Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut Bereavement Program and answer the following questions. Remember that a particular child might have a more or less mature concept for his or her age.

1			Describe three characteristics of preschoolers' thoughts about death.
2			List five ideas about death that are common in children aged six to eight years old.
3			Point out six aspects of thinking about death that are present in children aged nine to twelve years old.
4			Explain what happens to the development of the concept of death during adolescence when abstract reasoning is present.