From the author: Any loss is a crisis state. And the grieving process depends on a person’s internal resources, on the environment and the ability to rely on its support. The main thing is to talk. No matter how small the child is, he will definitely notice changes in the behavior of the people around him and the absence of one or another family member. Of course, the text of the message, the degree of his involvement in the funeral process, as well as his ability to live through the crisis associated with the death of a loved one depend on the age of the child. To talk about what happened, it is better to choose the most accessible language forms for the child. It is enough to say that “grandfather died, he is no more” than to indulge in florid metaphors about the frailty of life and the finitude of everything earthly. When choosing a place for conversation, make sure that no one interferes, and that it is as safe and comfortable as possible for the child. If this is accepted in the family, then it is worth establishing physical contact. Allow the child to express the full possible range of feelings, even cry with him. But if you feel that when explaining there is a risk of falling into hysterics, then it is better to entrust the conversation to another close relative. Young children tend to be interested in the process itself and what happens after death. Don't discount their questions. The worst thing you can do in this situation is to leave them alone with anxiety and bewilderment. As for the traditional ritual - the funeral itself - this is an important stage in the grieving process, the awareness of the irreversibility of loss. Whether to take a child to a funeral depends on his age and how much strength you feel in yourself to give him and his feelings enough attention and explain the meaning of what is happening. If the child has not been to a funeral before, then it is worth talking to him in advance, explaining what will happen, talking about the rules of behavior and possible reactions of the people who came, and after that giving him the right to choose. In the future, you should not prohibit the child from remembering the events associated with a deceased person. Any loss is a crisis state. And the grieving process depends on a person’s internal resources, on the environment and the ability to rely on its support. The irreplaceability of loss plays a large role in the grieving process. We grieve not for a specific person, but for the value that we lost with his death. For example, the death of a mother equals the loss of value as a son or daughter. Accordingly, the more valuable the role is lost, the more irreparable the loss, and the more time is needed for grieving. According to the Gestalt approach, there are 4 main stages of this process: * shock; * anger-powerlessness; * living; * integration. Most young children do not have the resource for living through all stages of grief. And they can be stuck in a stage of shock or powerlessness for many years until the resource appears to move to the next stage.