How do I explain my child's death to their siblings without making it worse?

This is one of the hardest conversations you'll ever have, and there's no way to make it painless. But there are ways to make it honest. Rabia al-Adawiyya lost everyone she loved—her family, her freedom, her dignity—yet she never stopped seeing people as whole beings worthy of tenderness. She teaches us that children need the same: the truth, delivered with care. Your surviving children are already sensing something is wrong. Silence creates more fear than words. Tell them what happened in language they can understand, without details that will haunt them. "Your sister died" is harder than "your sister is sleeping," but it's the only foundation you can build on. Let them ask questions, even the ones that hurt. Some won't have answers. "I don't know why" is honest. "I'm sad too" is necessary. They'll grieve differently than you, and that's okay. One child might need to talk constantly; another might need to play. Don't try to make them feel better—that's impossible. Just be present with how they actually feel. Consider a grief counselor who works with children. They can hear things from a non-parent that sometimes land differently. And you'll get space to break down without frightening your kids further.