«Mummy, what happens after death?»

Our son, 8, was taught about death at primary school - they even visited a cemetery. Now he is very upset and wants to know what happens after death. We would like to comfort him, but we are not believers. What should we tell him?
Ruth, 37, and Hannes, 39, Reinach

This is what our experts say:

The authors:


Nicole Althaus, 47, is a columnist, author and member of the editorial board of "NZZ am Sonntag". She was previously editor-in-chief of "wir eltern" and initiated and managed the mum blog on "Tagesanzeiger.ch". Nicole Althaus is the mother of two children, 15 and 11.
Tonia von Gunten, 42, is a parenting coach, educator and author. She runs elternpower.ch, a programme that aims to bring fresh energy into families and strengthen parents in their relationship skills. Tonia von Gunten is married and the mother of two children, 9 and 6.
Peter Schneider works as a psychoanalyst and columnist in Zurich. Until 2017, he was Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology in Bremen; he currently teaches the history and scientific theory of psychoanalysis in Berlin.

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