A brief YouTube video excerpt (April 2, 2011) featuring David Kessler answering the question “How do I talk to my teenager about the death?” Kessler advises being honest and open, not hiding parts of the story, sharing age-appropriate information (distinguishing 13-year-olds from 17-year-olds), and modelling how you are managing the loss so teens can learn from you.
How do I talk to my teenager about the death?
In talking with your teenager about death, you should be honest. You should be open. You should not try to protect them.
Or hide.
Parts of.
The story, because.
Teenagers can feel this. And teenagers, when they're in grief.
Really need honesty.
So you should tell them everything you can about the situation. Everything that's age appropriate. Things are very different when you're talking about a 13 year old versus a 17 year old. So always be age appropriate with a child, but share as much as you can in an honest way with a child. And also share with them how you see things and.
How you are dealing.
With it, and.
How you.
Are managing through this loss. Because they need to.
Learn that from.
You just as well as they needed to learn everything else they did from you as a parent.
