All parents dread the fact they have to describe death to their little ones. Parents of little ones with autism are even more worried about how to explain. Although this communication will never be smooth, with autistic children. people on the autism spectrum usually have a troublesome time understanding abstract concepts, so it’s crucial to be as clear as possible.
Avoid euphemisms
Expressions like “he is sleeping,” “he went to Heaven,” and “we lost him” can be complicated for an autistic child. Most autistic kids tend to interpret words literally, so they might question why they can’t tour Heaven, become frightened of going to nap, or just don't understand what’s happened.
An (age-appropriate) explanation of death is essential to understand death is the final destination of life, and it is a natural phenomenon, and what remains is the memories of that person. A child might be frightened of a cold or scoured knee is enough to provoke death. Both autistic and neurotypical kids may not grasp the concept right away, it could take days or months for a child to understand what’s exactly happened.
Some deaths are unforeseen, but in other circumstances, when a relative is sick for a while. Don’t wait until they die to open up to your child. For one thing, an autistic child can foresee the family members acting abnormally and be puzzled about why. When the person dies, it will come as a blow if they are not aware of their illness.
For many families, the grieving manner involves lots of events, such as visitation, a funeral, a burial ceremony, and/or religious traditions.
Detail the process and give the kid a choice about whether to attend if overwhelmed.
It is also crucial to note that autistic kids have processing lags, which means the information is processed not immediately. Sometimes, it may take even months.
It’s natural to bother about how you can contribute assistance as they cope with bereavement. Autistic kids, especially, may require extra care when coping with loss. Be patient with the behavioural changes. Reassurance is mandatory during difficult times, so be open to express feelings about death. Things may be tough, but rendering support is the best thing we could do. A parent’s love stretches a long way especially when healing.
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