What is a common characteristic of school-age children’s perception of death?

School-age children typically begin to develop a more sophisticated understanding of death as they grow older. By this stage, their cognitive development allows them to grasp that death is irreversible and final, distinguishing their perspective from that of younger children, who may view death as a temporary state or as something that can be reversed, much like in fairy tales.

At this developmental stage, children often understand that death is not just a form of temporary separation but rather a permanent loss. They start to comprehend the biological and emotional implications of death, which reflects a more adult-like perspective about mortality. This understanding helps them engage more deeply with the concept of loss, as they can recognize its implications in human life.

Recognition of death's permanence may lead school-age children to exhibit various responses, such as fear or anxiety, and they may express these feelings in different ways, but fundamentally, their conceptualization aligns more closely with adult notions of death rather than a fantastical or trivialized interpretation. This maturity in understanding sets school-age children's perceptions apart from those of younger children, who are still very much enchanted by magical thinking and often do not comprehend death's permanence.