How Does a Child Think About His Own Death When He is Life-Threateningly Ill - Assignment Example

The first age group in this regard is between 0-3 years or toddlers. These children do not understand the meaning of death but they have a sense that their family routine is changing. The second age group is the one with 3-5 years or pre-school children. These children have an understanding to some extent but they think that death is not permanent. For instance, some might explain it as ‘going to heaven.’ If a child in this stage becomes ill to a dangerous extent, he or she might think that it is a punishment for something that they have done.

The next stage is the 6-10 years or the school-age. At this point, the children gain a more realistic perception of death. Association of ghosts and angels as death is common along with anxiety about life after death. The next group is the 11-14 or the adolescents, they understand now that death is permanent and irreversible. The realization of the fact that they too can die dents their self-image of immortality leading to emotional, scared, or angry behavior.