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How do you explain death to children? Can you help?

Eddie Mair | 16:43 UK time, Wednesday, 25 February 2009

The thoughts of many are with David and Samantha Cameron following the death of their son, Ivan, as we'll report on PM shortly.

"[I cannot] imagine the pain of losing a child... the mere thought always reduces me to tears. I can't even write this post without tears!" Wrote Fi on the PM Blog.

Claire Bates, whose six-year-old son - like Ivan - has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, wrote an article for the ±«Óãtv News .

"When I heard today's news about [Ivan's] death, I pulled over my car, took deep breaths and watched my hands begin to shake.

My middle son asked me why we weren't going to pre-school. I told him a special boy like Noah had died and a family just like us was very sad."

The very public illness of Jade Goody has also raised the issue of how to break such bad, but vital news to young children.

There was in which Jade Goody discusses a book about dying. The same paper hears from a childcare and parenting author, .

Do YOU have experience in this delicate area which you could share? Feel free to click on comments, or send an email to iPM@bbc.co.uk.

THURSDAY UPDATE: today reports how Mr and Mrs Cameron broke the news to their children.

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