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Do children have NDEs?

Yes.  Our best research so far indicates that about 85% of children who experience cardiac arrest have an NDE.  With improving cardiac resuscitation techniques, more and more children are surviving cardiac arrest.  More children who have had NDEs are alive today than ever before, and the number is likely to increase because of improved resuscitative techniques.  Apparently, youngsters of any age can have an NDE.  Very young children, as soon as they are able to speak, have reported NDEs they had as infants or in the process of being born.

What types of NDEs do children have?

P.M.H. Atwater studied over 270 child NDErs.  She found that:

Following is an example of the most commonly reported type of childhood NDE, the "initial" experience.  In an episode of meningitis, a six-yearold reported being out of her body with a sense of being completely free of pain and totally surrounded by love.  She reported feeling like a soul neither boy nor girl, neither grown-up nor child.  She felt a sense of absolute peace and completeness.  When she looked down, she saw a girl lying in bed and empathized with her pain.  On reflection, she realized she must be that girl, and with that thought, she was back in her body.

How do children's NDEs compare to adults' NDEs?

The same features reported by adult NDErs have been reported also by child NDErs.  However, by comparison to adults' NDEs, children's NDEs:

What changes typically occur in children following an NDE?

Like adults, children often show profound changes after an NDE.  Common changes include:

Possible changes can include:

Unlike adults, changes in values may not be so obvious, partly because children's values are not already well formed, and partly because they do not verbalize their values to the extent that adults do.

What are the phases of adjustment after a childhood NDE?

PMH Atwater has suggested that children go through five stages in the aftermath of an NDE:

How can caregivers help a childhood NDEr?

Caregivers play a crucial role in helping a childhood NDEr cope with the aftermath of the NDE.  Following are some suggestions for caregivers to use in supporting the childhood NDEr.

Recommended Resources

Suggested readings:

Aron, E (2002).  The highly sensitive child.  New York: Broadway.

Atwater, P. M. H., L.H.D. (2003).  The New Children and Near-Death Experiences.  Rochester, Vermont: Bear & Company.

Atwater, P. M. H.  (2007).  The Big Book of Near-Death Experiences.  Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads Publisher.

Morse, M. with Perry, P. (1990).  Closer to the Light: Learning from the Near-Death Experiences of Children.  New York: Ballantine.

Morse, M (1994).  Transformed by the light.  New York: Ballantine.

Ring, K. & Valarino, E. E. (1998).  Lessons from the light: What We Can Learn from the Near-Death Experience.  Portsmouth, NH: Moment Point Press.

Suggested websites

Besides this web site, there are those of PMH Atwater and Kevin Williams (here, here and here)