at least 150 words

Yes, the ability to understand death varies by the age of the student. Preschoolers think that death is momentary. They “see death as something temporary” (Salek & Ginsburg, 2015). For instance, “Daddy is sleeping” could be a response from a four year old who just lost his father. School-aged children know and understand that death is final. However, “they may believe they are to blame and feel guilty for what happened” (Salek & Ginsburg, 2015).  They may feel that they caused it. Teenagers understand death but often do not want to show emotions. They “understand death on the same level as adults, but they may be resistant to expressing any emotion about it” (Salek & Ginsburg, 2015).

                There are several ways a teacher could encourage a child with a degenerative disease to reconcile with his/her inevitable death due to a physical impairment. One way is to all the student to talk to someone about what is happening. The student can talk to either a psychologist or school counselor about their disease. Another way is to read books and articles about the student’s disease. They will learn more and be able to discuss about his/her disease.

Reference:

Salek, E.C. & Ginsburg, K.R. (2015). “How Children Understand Death & What You Should Say” Retrieved November 21, 2016 from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Building-Resilience/Pages/How-Children-Understand-Death-What-You-Should-Say.aspx.