Everyone is going to die at some point; it’s just a fact of life. Most people hope that it is when they are old and gray and have lived a good long life. Unfortunately, death can come at any time, and often times children who have not yet had the chance to really experience life are the ones who are dying…it happens every day. Death is not a subject people choose to talk about, and talking about children dying, or talking about death with children, is a topic that seems to bring about the most discomfort. One of the biggest questions asked is should you talk about death and dying with children? The answer is absolutely. It is our job as parents to teach our children about this inevitable part of life and show them, through our actions and words, that the topic of death is not off limits. Children are exposed to death all the time; we just are not keenly aware of it. Think about it, they see dead bugs, maybe dead animals on the side of the road, and even in some of the shows they watch on TV. It’s all around because it is the cycle of life. I’m not saying that you must have a conversation about every death experience they come across, but what I am saying is that when we are open to answering their questions about death, they learn that death is a natural experience and that it is a topic they should not be afraid to talk about or ask questions about. The more open we are in talking about death, the more we teach our children that death is a subject to embrace. As a parent, we may not have to have all the answers to their questions, but when we approach the subject with ease, comfort, and honesty, we teach them that they can come to us to discuss whatever is on their mind, and the most difficult topics are never off limits.