Good Grief! Effective Practices for Supporting Conversations about Death in Early Childhood Settings by Melody Passemante Powell, M.Ed.

Talking with young children about a topic as nuanced and complex as death can feel overwhelming—even for the most experienced educators. Just as no two adults process grief in the same way, children also experience and understand loss differently. In this thoughtful and supportive session, led by Melody Passemante Powell, M.Ed., Supervisor at Fairfax County’s Institute for Early Learning and a veteran early childhood leader with over two decades of experience, participants will reflect on their own values, consider key factors that should be taken into account before engaging children in conversations about death, and explore practical techniques and supportive language that will help educators approach these discussions with both sensitivity and confidence.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Reflect on personal beliefs and values related to death and grief and identify how these perspectives may influence conversations with children and families.

2. Identify key considerations—such as family culture, language, emotional readiness, and situational context—before discussing death with young children.

3. Apply practical strategies and developmentally appropriate language when responding to children’s questions and emotions about death.

4. Demonstrate confidence in initiating and guiding conversations about death in ways that foster emotional safety and trust.

5. Collaborate with families and caregivers through sensitive communication that respects diverse cultural and spiritual understandings of death.