It can be quite the challenge to explain funeral services and cremation services to children. Depending on their age, they may have a limited grasp about matters concerning death, so you will need to be careful when talking to them about such matters. One source of information, if you need help broaching the topic, is a funeral home offering cremation services in Clarksburg, MD. They’re the experts on the body disposition and will be able to advise you.

Here are some tips that may help you explain to children in the family what cremation entails.

Read also: What Value is There in Holding a Funeral Service?

Simple Works Best

The first thing to remember is that you should keep things as simple as you can. The younger the children are, the simpler your language should be. You don’t want to confuse them unnecessarily with long-winded explanations that leave them more confused than informed. Stick with simple words and shorter sentences. And don’t assume they understand – ask.

Choose Your Words Wisely

When explaining cremation, be careful about the words you use. For instance, you don’t want to mention words like “fire” or “burn” when talking to children about the body disposition. Those words have negative connotations that may give children the wrong idea. You might, instead, say something like, “Grandma will be placed inside a warm room until her body turns into ashes.’ Remember to mention that their deceased loved one will be peacefully asleep during the process and that they will not feel any pain or discomfort whatsoever. In fact, they won’t even be aware of what is happening.

Watch Your Euphemisms

You’ll need to be careful when using euphemisms. You don’t have to avoid them entirely – but you should use them selectively It’s common to use terms like “passed away” when describing someone who has died, and that’s fine usually. But children who are especially young won’t understand such terms in the way these terms are expected to be understood. So consider the child’s age and level of comprehension when using euphemisms. In terms of describing something like a cremation, it’s often best to use words that have positive connotations. But there are other instances where going this route might cushion the emotional blow for the child.

Keep the Conversation Going

Let the children in your family know that you’re always there if they want to talk. And don’t wait for them to come to you either. You can ask them if they understand what you said. You can also let them know that it’s okay to open up and tell you how they feel and to ask questions.

Read also: Things About Funeral Services a Funeral Director Won’t Ever Say

We’re the sort of cremation services provider in Clarksburg, MD that you can turn to if you need more tips and recommendations about explaining cremation to children. We’re here to help you with planning for a deceased relative or with preplanning for yourself. We’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been serving the community since the early 1900s. We also have a track record of helping people who need the help of a professional death care services provider. You can reach us by phone or visit our office to speak to someone in person.

After a loved one has been cremated, you may want to scatter the ashes. Many people who plan cremation services in Silver Spring, MD opt to scatter ashes on land, on the water, or in the air. Any of these options for scattering will work, and scattering is certainly what many families choose to do after the cremation of a loved one. Here are some tips to do it.

Trench the Ashes

One scattering option is to trench the ashes. This is done by digging a trench in the ground – sort of like if you are gardening and making a trench to place seeds into before covering the trench up with earth. After creating a trench — it should be long enough to contain the ashes but doesn’t need to be too deep — you can place the urn into the trench and cover it up. It’s a good idea to go with a biodegradable urn that will naturally disintegrate over time. You can also scatter the ashes into the trench, rather than place the urn in it, and then cover up the trench.

Rake the Ashes

Another popular scattering method is raking the ashes. This is an easy process that essentially means scattering the ashes on the earth and then using a rake to mix the ashes into the ground. It’s a good idea to do the raking in a place that has sentimental value. Did the deceased enjoy being outside in the backyard? You might want to rake the ashes in the backyard or in a garden. Does the family own a cottage with some land? You can find a suitable location on the property to rake the ashes.

Cast Ashes in the Air

You can also scatter the ashes by casting the ashes in the air. You can do this in a park – perhaps after a memorial service in honor of the deceased. It’s a good idea to scatter the ashes below the waist. This will reduce the chances of the ashes blowing back on you and others. No one wants a face full of cremation ashes. That would be one way to end a memorial service on a negative note. Even so, ashes are environmentally safe and don’t pose health risks. So you won’t have to worry about harming either the environment or any person.

Cast Ashes on the Water

It’s also possible to cast ashes on the water. If you want, you may get a biodegradable urn so that you can cast the entire urn overboard in honor of your deceased loved one.

Do you need help from a provider of cremation services in Silver Spring, MD? We’re a reputable death care services provider with experience helping people with their planning and preplanning needs. Our goal is to offer our customers the level of service we’d want if we were in need of similar services. Why can you trust us with your final services planning needs? We’re a family owned and operated funeral home that has been faithfully serving the community since the early 1900s. Our solid reputation for helping people in the community will give you confidence that you can count on us with your body disposition needs. Give us a call to learn more.