Losing a loved one, particularly a parent, can be very devastating to a child. Breaking such awful news to someone who has been left behind by his or her parent is probably one of the most difficult tasks a person may be faced with.
Although nobody can truly understand what a person is going through, it will help if they realize that you are with them in such difficult time of their life. By being open about the situation, you will be able to encourage them to openly express what they really feel.
Here are more tips on how to help a child cope with the death of a parent.