Should Children Visit Cemeteries?

The loss of a close relative is not an easy ordeal, even for adult family members. But the situation becomes even more complicated if the meaning of irrevocable loss needs to be explained to the child, who has not the slightest idea of ​​the inevitability of death. How to explain the death of a beloved family member to a small child and should children attend funeral at early age?

When grief befalls a family, the relatives of the deceased have to deal with many different questions, including one of the most important: can children go to the cemetery? A visit to the abode of the dead is not an easy test, even for a mature personality. Therefore, in each individual case, the decision on the child's visit to the cemetery should be decided taking into account the circumstances and individual characteristics of the kid.

Is it all right for children to go to the cemetery: the opinion of teachers, esotericists, clergy.

Caring for the last refuge of a loved one, remembrance of the dead is the eternal duty of all living people. But even dreams about a cemetery can leave heavy impression, not to mention a real stay among the graves. Is it always appropriate to take a child there? Specialists in various fields give their comments on this matter. When is it better to refrain from visiting the churchyard with children?

Medical indications. Most often, cemeteries are located outside the city; they are blown by the winds and are in no way protected from precipitation or the scorching sun. If a child has a chronic illness or has just recently recovered from a chronic illness, visiting such a place can be a serious burden on the fragile child's body.

When it comes to the funeral of a loved one, it is enough if the child takes part in a civil funeral service or a church funeral service, and after that it is best for him to go home.

The opinion of doctors regarding whether it is possible to go to a cemetery with a newborn is unanimous: it is not worth doing this unless absolutely necessary. The presence of an infant at the funeral ceremony is not at all necessary; in addition, parents will be forced to be torn between performing sad duties and looking after the child.

Psychological factor. Sometimes adults do not realize how sensitive and receptive the child's psyche is. Crying and sobbing, hard feelings of loved ones can lead to serious psychological trauma. It is impossible to predict what these experiences will result in: isolation, panic attacks, neurological disorders. At least until the child reaches the age of ten, it is better for parents not to take him to such events as funerals at the cemetery, many psychologists believe.

Church opinion. Any clergyman cares first of all about the physical health and mental well-being of his parish, and only then monitors the enforcement of the prescribed rituals. In general, the church is of the opinion that there is no need to hide diligently the sad side of life from the little ones, but nevertheless, in each specific case, it is necessary to take into account the accompanying circumstances, for example, the psychological state of the child.

Holy fathers quite often have to answer the question of young devout parents - is it possible for young children to go to the cemetery. If adults believe that the child is not yet ready to visit graves or participate in religious rituals, then home prayer will be quite enough to remember the deceased.

For comparison, you can refer to the traditions of other denominations. For example, the Muslim tradition allows children to visit the cemetery, but does not consider their participation in ritual activities compulsory. In Buddhism, it is not customary to take children to burial places. And the Israelis are of the opinion that it is undesirable for children under the age of nine to appear in the territory of the dead.

The opinion of esoteric specialists. People who have mastered the techniques of working with the biofield claim that a person's aura is formed during the first seven years of life. Of course, the baby does not remain completely defenseless: he is in close connection with the mother's energy field. However, we must not forget that the territory of many graveyards is a real concentration of aggressive energy: there are many traces of damage, cemetery spells, transfers made by magicians and sorcerers.

So, is it okay to go to a cemetery with an infant or a small child? An infant will not understand the meaning of what is happening, and a visit to the churchyard may be unsafe for him. Children over the age of five are already able to understand how to behave at the cemetery, but it would still be better to start their acquaintance with this aspect of life in advance. If you first take the child to the graves of relatives gone long ago, then the commemoration will be accompanied not by grief, but by light sadness, which will help the child accept the idea that losses are inevitable, but not so terrible.