Water Bugs and Dragonflies Explaining Death to Children (Looking Up)

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The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where he or she went and why. With a much loved family member slowly slipping away from us, I needed help explaining death to my kids, ages 10, 7, and 4. Part of the service was to bring forward their dragonfly with the names of loved ones written on them.

One spring day, not long after, the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Celebrating the wisdom of Stickney's perspective and the story's ongoing impact, the 50th anniversary edition of Water Bugs and Dragonflies includes the original magazine article from 1970 as well as a second article she wrote about her own cancer diagnosis, which It's as simple as I can withdraw inside myself, pull down the shades and wait. The waterbugs are happy together, living in the pond, but when they are ready, they leave the pond and transform into dragonflies.Christchurch and English Bicknor Churches used the ‘ Waterbugs and Dragonflies‘ book by Doris Stickney as a basis for their All Souls’ Service on Sunday.

Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings…The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from the new body.Simplistic in it's ideas, this children's book illustrates the change that happens with death, keeping in line with our beliefs that death is not an ending at all and that we will be reunited. It is a small book that I have given to several friends to help them when talking to a youngster about death. Perhaps, because the dragonfly didn't die nor really did the water bug; it changed and became something else. One day a little waterbug finds himself walking up the stem, and when he lies on the lilypad the sun is so warm that he goes into a deep sleep.

Looking for a meaningful way to explain to neighbourhood children the death of a five-year-old friend, Doris Stickney adapted the graceful fable about the waterbug that changed into a dragonfly.He is so excited flying about, and only just remembers his promise to the other waterbugs to tell them what happened. was happening, he had broke through the surface of the water and fallen onto the broad, green lily pad above. There is a section at the back to guide parents/caregivers through explaining death in a more spiritual manner, if desired. While not told on a spiritual level, this story can be adapted to explain to children, whether with a religious context or not, the concept of death and moving on. The Diocesan Growing Faith and Spirituality Officer, the Revd Jo Weatherall, produced a video showing ways to use this book to help children understand death.