I love the stuff they churn out at HowStuffWorks, especially because they cover so much of Science and Technology.  Therefore, even I was surprised to read this, recently:

Over the years, you give your child a great deal of information in answer to his questions both trivial and serious. Some of your answers are very brief, just “Yes” or “No”; others are longer. Some consist of facts, plain and simple, and others express emotions, values, or philosophy. With the first “Why?” question you answer, you establish your own unique style of giving information, and your child knows from then on what to expect from you when he asks a question. However, some of your child’s questions will be easier to answer than others.

Among the most difficult questions you will have to answer for your child, are the ones on Death, Sex and Divorce.  In a well-written post, HowStuffWorks offers some really sensible advice on each of these three.  I am including a brief extract from each, to give you a sneak peek of what’s in store:

On Death

To counter denial, tell your child as often as necessary that yes, Grandpa is dead, and will not return, but those who love him will always remember him. Do not use misleading terms such as “sleeping” and “gone away”; the first may well make your child afraid to go to bed, and the second leads her to expect Grandpa’s return. And do not use confusing euphemisms such as “called home” and “happy in heaven.” Your child will find it hard to understand why people are sad when death sounds so good…

At some point after the death, your child may feel a great deal of fear — fear she will die, fear you will die and leave her alone and uncared for, nameless fear that if Grandpa can die, anything terrifying and horrible can happen. In spite of your constant reassurance, your child may regress in areas in which she had recently made strides foward, such as night waking, toilet training, or eating. Bear with her; the stage will pass…

On Sex

The best answer, wherever and whenever the question comes up, is brief and factual: “They grow inside their mothers.” Later, when your child has absorbed this bit of information and comes back with more questions, you should be equally matter-of-fact in explaining, probably in the following order, that the baby grows in the mother’s uterus, a special place in the mother’s body; comes out through a birth passage called the vagina; and is conceived when a cell from the father’s body joins a cell in the mother’s body…

Your hesitancy about explaining sexuality and reproduction to your child is natural and common among most parents. It disappears as you become more accustomed to answering the questions and giving the information so important for your child to have. Do remember to include the roles of love and intimacy and respect in your talks about reproduction with a child of any age. If you do not, you are telling only half the story…

On Divorce

Even very young children should be told the parents are separating before the departing spouse moves out, if possible. You should tell them the truth — the parent who is leaving will not come back to live. However young they are, they should not be told Daddy is going on a business trip or Mommy is going to visit Grandma. Divorce is somewhat similar to death in that it is final; euphemisms and lies or half-truths do more harm than good and ultimately have to be corrected…

Probably the first question a child of any age will ask is “Why?” Your answer may be something like this: “Because we aren’t happy living together, and we think it would be best for all of us if we lived apart.” The second question may be unasked, but don’t doubt that it is in your child’s mind: “If you can stop being happy together, can you stop being happy with me?” To attempt to dispel this fear, it is very important for you to say to your child, “We will both always love you; that will never change.”…

Do take the time to read the entire post.