ABSTRACT
As discussed in earlier chapters, children are usually egocentric, especially when very young. As a result, they are likely to view any event in terms of how it affects them personally. When a loved one dies, many kids will naturally ask or wonder if they are going to be the next to die, especially if the deceased was a child. When the death resulted from a realistic danger, such as a contagious illness or accident, children will quite easily make the connection to their own lives. Immature cognitive development allows for fears and anxieties to flourish. Worry and apprehension can be expressed directly or indirectly. Phobias, even ones that appear unrelated to death, are common reactions to a loss. Fear may be targeted at other relationships as usually fearless kids are now scared to leave their siblings or parents, worried that they, too, will die. Anxieties extend to general fears of circumstances or objects connected to the death, such as cars or sports. How to recognize fear responses will be considered in this section, primarily as they could be expressed in an educational setting.
