Death concerns in the preschool
Date
1979
Authors
Reeves, Nancy Christine
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study explored preschool teachers' informational needs, attitudes, feelings, and experiences with death concerns in the classroom, and examined the relationship between the teachers' perceived needs and their feelings and attitudes about death.
Sixty-three British Columbia government-licenced preschool supervisors (teachers) who had taught 2,002 preschool children (3-5 years old) throughout the school year 1977-78, completed a que3tionnaLre consisting of semantic differential and essay-type questions.
Results indicated preschool children experience the deaths of people and/or animals they know in sufficient numbers (21 per cent of the population) to involve most preschool teachers. Few participants (4%) expressed a negative orientation toward death. Respondents indicated a high frequency of occurrence of child-initiated death discussions in the classroom. All participants stated that discussing death has some place in the classroom and most stated that, regardless of satisfaction with their methods of dealing with death concerns, they need more knowledge and/or skill development in this area; notably in understanding childrens' views of death.
Implications of these findings and others regarding teachers' personal attitudes about death and about discussing death in the classroom are considered. Specific recommendations for future study are suggested.