Your Kid’s Suddenly Obsessed With Death – Here’s Why (And What To Say)

<div><img src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/690cbcd3230000db82be2678.jpg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale" alt="" data-caption="" data-credit-link-back="" data-credit="mrs via Getty Images" /></div><div class="content-list-component text"><p>There is a time in (almost) every child’s life when they briefly become obsessed with <a href="huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/death">death</a>, much to their <a href="huffingtonpost.co.uk/parents">parents</a>’ delight.</p><p>It’s only natural that they should take an interest. Death is a very common part of life and, sadly, many of us will experience the death of loved ones or pets when our children are young. They might also come across the concept – or at least mention of it – in movies or books. </p><p>According to <a href="https://www.annamathur.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">psychotherapist Anna Mathur</a>, young <a href="huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/children">children</a> (around the age of four) tend to experience a cognitive leap which “brings with it a growing awareness that life itself has an end”.</p><p>At the same time, their imaginations are expanding rapidly, she explained, “so they’re naturally curious about concepts like death, heaven, infinity (space) or disappearing forever”.</p><p>While some parents have dubbed it the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/1op610c/comment/nn95yk5/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“morbid stage”</a>, the expert told HuffPost UK this curiosity around death is developmental. Some kids just <em>really </em>want to learn more.</p&gt