Talking to Your Child about Their Wishes

Talking to the child about whether s/he is likely to die. “I encourage parents to not be afraid of that.”
Pediatric psychiatrist, Dr. Elena Lister: “It’s very, very hard to imagine because it just breaks our hearts that our child knows they are facing death. But most children sense it.” Elena provides concrete suggestions and language for how to open up the conversation and be in it gently and honestly. “If you don’t name it, you can’t offer comfort. I have not once come across in all my clinical years a parent who regretted telling them. But they need to feel prepared to deal with what happens after.”
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Talking to the child about whether s/he is likely to die. “I encourage parents to not be afraid of that.”

A bedtime conversation: “Mom, tell me about the angels. Will they take me to heaven?”

Talking about the possibility of death with the child him/herself.

Child Life - talking to a child about their wishes

Kids respond well to honesty and sometimes there are no answers.

She was willing to go there with me.

I asked, “So Lydia, what you think you would want if you did die?”

She was able to look at me and say, “Mom, I am dying.”
