Lego Created A ‘Funeral Set’ To Help Children Learn About Death


Most people don’t enjoy talking about death. In fact, they tend to avoid the topic whenever possible. During our lifetime, however, we are likely to come face-to-face with the subject and if we are prepared properly, it can make the grieving process much easier. We tend to feel confused about how we should be feeling during that time when we don’t face it in advance.

Image credits: bestattungsmuseum

Children can also have a difficult time understanding the concept of death, especially when they lose a loved one. They have different minds than most adults, however, because they are nonjudgmental and their curiosity helps them to look into the issue. Perhaps that is why they are able to talk about everything from the dying process to funerals and cremation more openly and honestly than adults. Giving them the opportunity to do so ahead of time can prepare them for the eventuality.

Image credits: bestattungsmuseum

The Funeral Museum in Vienna’s Central Cemetery, Bestattungsmuseum wanted to help youngsters to understand the difficult issues surrounding death by providing a Lego kit, with funeral scenes.

“We established the first product made of LEGO components in 2016,” museum spokesperson Dr. Florian Keusch said. “First it was a historical tram, which brought dead bodies to the Viennese central cemetery and was used in Vienna between the first and second world wars. This tram was for collectors, and then we made a truck and a historical hearse.”

Image credits: bestattungsmuseum

As one of the largest cemeteries in the world, there are more than 330,000 graves in 590 acres. It includes many famous individuals, such as Beethoven and Strauss. Even though they have a reverence for the dead and beautiful surroundings, the living are their primary focus.

“In 2018 my team and I were thinking about new products made of LEGO components. We had a few questions from grieving customers like: “Can I take our children with us to the funeral of our grandfather?” or “my child is grieving, what can I do?” and so on.” Dr. Keusch explained. “So we were brainstorming, how we can help children to overcome their grief. We have developed the crematoria, the cemetery with an excavator, the mourning family with a female and a male dead body and a skeleton and a historical horse buggy.”

Image credits: bestattungsmuseum

“We have integrated the Wiener Landesverband für Psychotherapie (Viennese Association of Psychotherapists) and ensured that the new products made of LEGO components were useful for therapy with children, and for parents with children, who were suffering from their loss. With these products, they can describe the process and the children can process their grief.”

Image credits: bestattungsmuseum

The world seems rather interested in is this Lego set, even though it is a little morbid. Dr. Keusch described the attention as being somewhat positive. “0.00001 percent of people were disgusted, because they have only read the headline “LEGO crematoria” and didn’t get the intentions behind these products,” he told us.
“They were made by an Austrian company – we created the design together with them and they produced the packaging, the manual and they organized the bricks and put it together in the box. It is not an official LEGO product, so we call it, for example, ‘crematoria made of LEGO components.’”

“They were made by an Austrian company – we created the design together with them and they produced the packaging, the manual and they organized the bricks and put it together in the box. It is not an official LEGO product, so we call it, for example, ‘crematoria made of LEGO components.’”

Image credits: bestattungsmuseum

Three different sets are currently available with prices from $56. Options include tombstones in a cemetery, excavators, cemetery personnel and a crematorium.

If role-playing is more to your liking, a funeral parade and grieving family are available. There is also a deceased person and a decomposed skeleton.

Image credits: bestattungsmuseum

There are now three new sets available, with prices ranging from 50 to 90 euros.

Source: BoredPanda


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