What Is Cremation?

Ages 3-5 Simple Explanation

You know how when a candle burns all the way down, it turns into soft little bits of wax? Cremation is a little bit like that. After a person dies and their body isn't working anymore, the body can be turned into very soft ashes.

You know how there are different ways to say goodbye? Some families bury the person in the ground, and some families choose cremation instead. Both ways are okay. It's just a different way for the family to take care of the person's body after they die.

You know how people keep special things in special containers, like a treasure box? After cremation, the ashes are put into a special container called an urn. The family can keep it somewhere safe, or they can spread the ashes in a place that was important to the person who died.

The most important thing to remember is that the person who died doesn't feel anything during cremation. Their body had already stopped working, so they don't feel any pain. The family chooses cremation because it feels like the right way for them to say goodbye.

Ages 6-8 More Detail

When a person dies, their family needs to decide what will happen to the body. One option is called cremation. During cremation, the body is placed in a very special, very hot chamber that turns it into soft, powdery ashes. This happens at a place called a crematory, and it's handled with great care and respect.

You might be wondering if cremation hurts. The answer is no. Cremation only happens after the person has already died, and once someone has died, their body can't feel anything at all. The person is completely at peace.

After cremation, the ashes are collected and placed into a container. Many families use a special container called an urn. Some urns are simple, and some are decorated beautifully. The family might keep the urn at home, place it in a special memorial spot, or scatter the ashes somewhere meaningful, like the person's favorite beach or mountain.

Cremation is chosen by many families all around the world. In some cultures and religions, cremation is the traditional way to handle a person's body after death. In other cultures, burial in the ground is more common. Neither way is better or worse. It's a personal choice each family makes.

If you went to a funeral or memorial service and someone mentioned cremation, it's perfectly normal to have questions. You might feel curious, confused, or even a little uncomfortable. That's all okay. Talking to a trusted adult about your questions can help you feel more at ease.

Ages 9-12 Full Explanation

Cremation is one of the two most common ways to handle a person's body after they die. Instead of being buried in a casket underground, the body is placed in a special high-temperature chamber where intense heat reduces it to bone fragments. Those fragments are then processed into a fine, powdery ash. The entire process is done professionally and respectfully at a facility called a crematory.

People choose cremation for many different reasons. Some families prefer it because it is often less expensive than a traditional burial. Others choose it because of cultural or religious traditions. In Hinduism, for example, cremation has been practiced for thousands of years. Some people simply like the idea of having their ashes scattered in a place they loved during their lifetime.

After cremation, the ashes, sometimes called "cremains," are given back to the family. Families handle them in a variety of ways. Some keep the ashes in a decorative urn displayed at home. Some bury the urn in a cemetery or place it in a special building called a columbarium. Others choose to scatter the ashes at a meaningful location, like the ocean, a hiking trail, or a family property.

One important thing to understand is that cremation does not cause the person any pain. The person has already passed away before cremation takes place, and their body no longer has any sensation. Cremation is simply a way of respectfully returning the body to a natural element.

If you recently attended a funeral or heard someone in your family talking about cremation, it is completely normal to feel curious or even a little uneasy. Death is a difficult subject, and learning about what happens to a person's body afterward can bring up strong feelings. Asking questions is a healthy way to work through those feelings, and there is no shame in wanting to understand more.