09/15/2026
Our friends teach us an important lesson about talking with children about death.
“He passed away.”
“We lost her.”
“She’s gone to sleep.”
We often use phrases like these because we want to protect children from the pain of death. But for grieving children, vague language and euphemisms can sometimes create more confusion, fear, and mistrust than simply telling the truth.
The kindest thing we can do? Use real words.
Died. Dead.
At The Sharing Place, this is what we recommend when talking with children about death—and it’s supported by research from two leading organizations in childhood grief: The Dougy Center and the National Alliance for Grieving Children.
When we use clear, honest language, we give children the understanding and trust they need as they grieve.