Should Young Children Attend Funerals? How Should Young Children Dress When Atte

1. 79

   ngurecoposted 14 years ago

   Should Young Children Attend Funerals? How Should Young Children Dress When Attending Funerals?

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2. 76

   Nick Bposted 14 years ago

   Two more questions I see.
   
   As for attending funerals, death is a part of life. It's probably the only thing that guaranteed too, so stopping children from attending is not healthy. Some people have to deal with death earlier than others. Sweeping it under the carpet isn't going to make it go away and may lead to questions you would rather not have to contend with--unless you want to lie that is.
   
   As far as children's dress at funerals, how would you dress?
   
   You would probably wear Sunday best and if that isn't black then you would probably wear a black arm band or something black out of respect.
   
   Why would a child need to appear differently?

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3. 61

   MickSposted 14 years ago

   Yes, children should attend funerals, it does no good at all trying to protect them from reality.
   They should wear formal attire, the same as everyone else.

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4. 60

   Mrs. J. B.posted 14 years ago

   It depends on the age of the child or children. Very young children need not attend. As for clothing, black is not necessary. Just a simple dress or a nice pair of slacks and a dress shirt.

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5. 84

   talfonsoposted 12 years ago

   Well, I believe that provided they are prepared for them, funerals should not be problems. Parents should explain what will be expected there, not just as far as behavior and manners go. For instance, if an open casket wake is expected, they should talk to them that a body in a coffin/casket on display looks like it's sleeping, but it cannot awaken because the person's body parts stopped working altogether.
   
   Also, they would give them a choice after explaining. Should they not go, they should assure them not to feel ashamed of it.
   
   As for dress, any neutral-colored, but not loud or bright (if the dress code for that funeral is relaxed as opposed to all black) Sunday best is appropriate. Boys may wear a dress shirt tucked in belted slacks, for instance.
   
   I had attended 5 funerals throughout middle school, starting with my own grandfather's (I was 12.5 at the time) and wore black, sometimes with white. I was so prepared for these emotionally-taxing events because I drove my teachers batty by reading books about death and dying in elementary school from 3rd grade. I may be a weird and crazy kid, but the good thing about it was that it prepared me well.

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