Trying to teach your kids about the significance of a Will isn’t an easy task, but it’s not impossible either. Read on to find out more…

Creating a Will is something we all have to do at one point or another. They are absolutely essential if you want to make sure that all of your assets are passed on exactly how you would like when you’re no longer around.

That said, talking about a Will and what it entails with your kids is far from easy. It can prove to be a complicated subject to fully explain – especially elements such as contentious probate. What’s more, the thought of describing what will happen when you die may be a little intimidating.

So, to find out more about how you can teach your kids about Wills, don’t hesitate to read on!

Tips for Teaching Your Kids About Wills

1. Ask Them What They Already Know

Before you get started, you should ask your kids what they already know about Wills. This is especially important for older children, as it’s often the case that they know about more about complex subjects than you might think.

By gauging your children’s understanding of the matter, you can also tailor exactly what you want to say and how much detail you want to go into.

2. Keep Things Simple

The first tip to consider would be to keep things as simple as possible, wherever you can. Wills can be incredibly complicated, so it’s best to glance over any details which might leave your children confused.

One way of explaining a Will in the simplest possible terms would be to create a list of simple bullet points that you can relay to your children. This way, you won’t find yourself delving into any unnecessary detail.

3. Keep It Light-Hearted

There’s no getting around the fact that Wills can be a grave topic to discuss. Bringing up the topic of death with your children is always likely to be difficult – even more so when you’re discussing yours, or your partner’s, death.

So, make sure to keep things light-hearted where you can, and avoid being too direct when it comes to talking about what happens when you die. One way of doing this could be to use more sensitive phrases like ‘passing away’ or ‘moving on’.

4. Honestly Answer Any Questions

That being said, you will still need to be honest when it comes to answering any questions your children might have. You don’t want to mislead them or leave them even more confused so, where necessary, you should speak to them honestly.

5. Provide Examples

If you’re finding it tough to explain a Will to your children, one of the most effective approaches would be to use practical examples wherever you can.

Depending on the contents of your Will and how you intend to distribute your assets, you can use direct examples. A good example to use would be to explain that the family home will pass on to them when they’re old enough.

6. Don’t Try to Explain Everything at Once

Children’s attention spans are famously poor, so trying to fully explain a Will all at once is not going to be the best approach. Instead, try explaining different elements of it at different opportunities.

There’s a much higher chance of your child retaining information if you provide it to them in installments.

7. Bring Up the Topic Naturally

It will also be much easier to explain Wills to your children if you’re able to bring the topic up naturally. This is opposed to formally sitting your kids down for a structured conversation. You won’t want to do that, and they certainly won’t want to either.

If you want to stir up a more natural conversation, think about bringing up the topic while you’re eating dinner, or driving them home from school. This means that they won’t have any other distractions but won’t feel forced into a conversation.

8. Carry Out Conversations with Your Significant Other

If you’re going to teach your children about Wills, you will want to do so with your significant other. Your partner will be able to help answer any questions you might struggle with, making it easier to comprehend overall.

So, before you start a conversation with your children, sit down with your partner and plan out exactly what you both want to say.

9. Encourage an Open Conversation

As with any discussion surrounding complex subject matter, it’s a good idea to encourage an open conversation to improve your children’s understanding. You can do this by asking them open ended questions that encourage them to relay information back to you, improving their overall understanding.

10. Don’t Be Afraid to Readdress the Subject at a Later Date

If you feel as though your children aren’t taking on board what you’re explaining, or they are struggling to fully grasp what a Will entails, don’t try and force the issue.

Instead, you’ll probably be better off coming back to talking about Wills when they’re a little older. There’s nothing wrong with admitting defeat if you don’t think they’re quite ready to continue the discussion.

Are You Thinking About How to Explain a Will to Your Children?

Hopefully these tips have given you a better understanding of some of the ways you can explain a Will to your children. Discussing any complex subject with kids is always going to be difficult. So, it’s best to remain as patient as possible and appreciate that it may take some time to fully sink in.

Have you previously explained a Will to your children? If you’ve got any further tips that you think would be important for other parents to be aware of, feel free to leave a comment below so we can keep the discussion going.