When the Pet Hamster Dies: What to Avoid Saying to Your Children

The death of a pet can be a devastating blow to young children. They are likely to display the same symptoms that they would at the death of a relative. In a bid to encourage them, some parents end up saying the wrong thing. A hamster may seem like a small, trivial animal to you, but to your child this pet might have been viewed with great affection and as a dear friend.

Let's Get Another Hamster

Children who are grieving over the loss of their hamster will not want to hear how Daddy intends to make it all better again by buying another hamster. The death of a pet is not the same as replacing a torn dress. Buying a new one will not make everything better again. Parents need to see that as far as their children are concerned, the hamster was a member of the family. As such, there will be a grieving process that children need to go through, the duration of which will depend on the children's ages and how attached they were to the hamster. Over time, some children are able to accept another hamster. But for the time being, it is best to avoid the subject of buying a new hamster.

I Remember when My Goldfish Died. I was Sad Too

It is always a good idea for parents to try and sympathize and help their children deal with the death of the family hamster. But it will not always be appropriate to tell your children about the goldfish you had when you were a child and how you were upset over its death. Not all children can relate to the comparison. They may even wonder how the death of a goldfish could be as bad as the death of the hamster your children raised from birth.

We've Already Buried Harry the Hamster

No one likes to face the reality of death, but it can help children to deal with their pet's death if they see the hamster placed into a box and then buried. Imagine their horror and hurt as they learn later on that their hamster has already been buried! This can be a very difficult thing to cope with. If you can, ask your children to help you dig a hole and place their hamster in the ground. It can help them cope more easily.