Should Children Attend Their Parent's Funeral?

Bereaved children and their surviving parents were interviewed regarding participation in and reaction to funeral activities following the death of one parent. Most children were expected to go and wanted to go to funeral activities and were reportedly emotionally controlled at funeral activities. Participation in and reactions to funeral activities did not predict increased psychiatric symptomatology at 2-months postdeath. Based on these preliminary data it seems that attendance at funeral activities is not in itself detrimental to a child's mental health in the short term. Long-term follow-up of these children is recommended.