Whether it is a close family member who has died or someone they don't personally know, like a famous person - children experience death and parents will be asked about it. 

But what is the right thing to say, especially at a time when a parent is often going through their own grief?

Many parents worry about getting it wrong, but honest answers, concrete terminology and empathy go a long way, 'We don't want them trying to figure it out for themselves.'

Benjamin Jensen is a grief counsellor at Skylight - Listen to his interview as he discusses how to talk to children about death with Kathryn Ryan on Radio NZ.