Parental attitudes toward death education for young children

An exploratory study was conducted to ascertain perceptions of parents toward the role of early childhood educators in teaching young children about aspects of death education. A secondary objective was to contrast perceptions of parents with those of teachers toward death education for young children utilizing data from a previous study. Although parents of young children generally agreed with statements depicting the need for early childhood educators' self-development, communication with children, interaction with children's parents, and curriculum planning, they expressed significantly less support than teachers for death education as a part of early childhood education. Moreover, although parents acknowledged the importance of children acquiring an ecumenical understanding of and respect for others' beliefs about death, they did not wish teachers to share their personal philosophical or religious beliefs about death with young children. Parents also exhibited a more protective attitude than teachers relative to children's questions and expressed concerns about death.