how to explain death to a 2.5yo?

thank you!

eta: had to take down post but would still love any advice

Message edited 4/26/2011 11:10:25 AM.

Re: how to explain death to a 2.5yo?

Awwh..My friend just went through this with her grandma.. She just basically told her DC that grandma was going to sleep so she could be with god. Her DC then asked her is there icecream with god..and her reply was yes lots and lots of it.. Children can be very innocent. My friend said shes not sure if her DC understood the whole thing but she has asked where grandma was a few times and she points to the sky and says up there with god eating icecream.

BTW I am sorry for you DH grandmother. My prayers are with you!

Message edited 4/26/2011 11:05:56 AM.

Re: how to explain death to a 2.5yo?

i had a book given to me when DH passed.
i know the norm is to tell the child that the person has gone to sleep and wont wake up, but that can terrify a child and make them afraid to go to sleep. this book said not to tell your child that someone has gone to sleep and wont wake up.
i told DD the truth, i tell her the truth multiple times a month.
for your DC I would tell them that Grandma has passed away and is now up in heaven with God (if this is your belief). if they ask why? i would probably tell my own child that she was very old and it was her time to go and meet God in heaven.
personally i stay away from the words hurt, sick, sleeping...it could make your child afraid to get hurt, sick or go to sleep.

DD is 3 and still dosent totally get it...

sorry for the hard time you are going through

Re: how to explain death to a 2.5yo?

My sister was killed before DS was born but at almost 3 he sort of "found out" about it.

We told him that Aunt V is in a town called Heaven that's far far away and you can't get there by car or airplane.

Everynight before bed we ask what we are going to dream about - for a few days it was going to heaven to visit aunt v - then he got back on his favorite toy/movie/food.

Sorry for your loss


ETA: Not really sure how you could use this but DS is good about sharing stuff. We had to move and we told him it was someone elses turn to live in that house b/c we have to take turns/share. Just thought somehow that might be of use to you (maybe if he wanted to see whoever it was again....)

Message edited 4/26/2011 12:17:30 PM.