How should I talk to children about death? Be brief but honest – and answer their questions | Sarah Ayoub

It's important to give kids time to process information - and reassure them they're safe and cared for

• Sharing the Load is a column about parenting children of all ages

How do I talk to my children about death?

When Rechelle Leahy's husband Allistair was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer in 2013, they faced a difficult decision: when, and how, they would tell their two children - aged just six and four - about his impending death.