Infancy to 2 years |
Is not yet able to understand death. |
Quietness, crankiness, decreased
activity, poor sleep, and weight
loss. |
Separation from mother causes changes. |
2–6 years |
Death is like sleeping. |
Asks many questions (How does she go to the bathroom? How does she eat?). |
Problems in eating, sleeping, and bladder and bowel control. |
Fear of abandonment. |
Tantrums. |
Dead person continues to live
and function in some ways. |
Magical thinking (Did I think something or do something that caused the death? Like when I said I hate you and I wish you would die?). |
Death is temporary, not final. |
Dead person can come back to life. |
6–9 years |
Death is thought of as a person or spirit (skeleton, ghost, bogeyman). |
Curious about death. |
Asks specific questions. |
May have exaggerated fears about
school. |
Death is final and frightening. |
May have aggressive behaviors
(especially boys). |
Some concerns about imaginary
illnesses. |
Death happens to others; it will not happen to ME. |
May feel abandoned. |
9 and older |
Everyone will die. |
Heightened emotions, guilt,
anger, shame. |
Increased anxiety over own death. |
Mood swings. |
Death is final and cannot be changed. |
Fear of rejection; not wanting to
be different from peers. |
Even I will die. |
Changes in eating habits. |
Sleeping problems. |
Regressive behaviors (loss of
interest in outside activities).
|
Impulsive behaviors. |
Feels guilty about being alive
(especially related to death of a
brother, sister, or peer). |