How do you talk to your kids about the concept of life, death and God?

The concept of death, loss and God are often challenging to explain to a child.I don’t remember “getting” these concepts so early as a child but I have a 3.5 year old and she understands the concept of death and loss. She has been to about 4 funerals and was actually at one yesterday.

Yesterday she asked me, “when people die it’s sad daddy, but they’re with God right, so it’s ok, right?” And I answered yes. Then she asked me, “But who is God’s daddy, and his grandma and his mommy?” I then answered with an honest answer, “I don’t know, God is just energy–he doesn’t have a mommy or daddy.” Explaining the concept of God to children is a tough one.

She didn’t like that answer because she was like, “no daddy, he HAS to have a mommy and daddy or he couldn’t be born.” Then she said, “God must have a grandma and a grandpa too Daddy or his mommy and daddy wouldn’t be born either.” And I couldn’t argue anymore–she was right. Her little mind never ceases to amaze me.

Now I’m no psychoanalyst by any means, I’m just an internet philosopher but I think this is a prime example of how powerful the intellectual innocence of a child is. Every answer you give them is followed up with a “but why is…?” My daughter is 3.5 and she asked me “if God is so good Daddy, why do people still die?” It floored me as well. I think sometimes we underestimate how much children can actually comprehend at such a young age, because my children grasp some really intense things as well and then don’t “get” some simple concepts. My daughter also often says that she doesn’t want my wife and I to die as well.

How do you handle talking about the concept God, life and death with your child? Do you talk about God with your child and do the “get it” ?

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