how do I.We explain to my 3 yr old daughter and 4 yr old nephew that their great grandmal has passed away?

Question

she passed away this morning unexpected, and we don't know how to tell them . they keep asking for thier grandmal. please help!

Answer 1

They wont understand death. Just tell them she went away and if theyre sad hold them and hug them.

Answer 2

Whatever you do, do NOT say "she's sleeping"!!! Then the kid will be terrified of going to sleep! Kids seem to like the idea of reincarnation, so for now, I'd say, "Grandma had to leave for a while, but she'll be back, in a brand new body...and don't worry, she'll know it's you when she sees you!". Keep it simple and don't throw in a bunch of theology they can't understand.

If you DON'T believe in reincarnation, you can always tell the kid that later. I was raised Catholic, and found the idea of going to a heaven, where I (or someone I loved) would be disembodied, SOOO DEPRESSING! Ask them about that and if they feel the same, then just dodge the question 'til they're old enough to understand death (a 3 year old is NOT!).

Answer 3

Well let me say I'm sorry for your loss.

Death can be explained to children the same way we explain other important milestones: Offer the facts in a simple, honest, straightforward, non-threatening, caring way.

Be honest, and keep it simple. Children know when adults are shading the truth.
First find out what the child already knows or thinks s/he knows about death.

Validate feelings and encourage children to share their thoughts, fears and observations about what is happening.

Explain that in the circle of life all living things will die someday, and that death causes changes in a living thing.

Avoid euphemisms such as, “passed away,” “sleeping,” and “lost.”

Explain what dead means: “Grandma died. Her heart stopped beating and she doesn’t breathe in and out anymore. She doesn’t need to eat or go to the bathroom. She cannot see, hear or move, and she cannot feel pain. Being dead is not the same as sleeping. All your body parts work when you are sleeping. When a person dies, her body has stopped working. The part of Grandma that was alive is gone. All that’s left is her body – like an egg shell without the egg.”

Explain how we might feel when someone dies: sad, mad, or confused – and we may cry sometimes.

Don’t hide your own feelings. Feeling, showing and verbalizing one’s own pain gives children an example to follow, while holding back implies that feelings are to be suppressed. Let your children know that grief is a family affair.

Answer 4

Just tell them grandmal had to leave. She says goodbye and be good. They are very young and that will be the end of it. Besy to not talk much about it or othe subjects around them. They are at the learning stage and will pick on things fast.

Answer 5

hi, that's the 2d time I even have heard a parent is asserting there very youthful baby is incredibly candy etc. yet has a violent subject. Being a mom of a autistic baby I even have been and going to baby psychological wellness people on a universal bases to help me with my baby and my different young ones. I even have been informed, and taught whilst a baby is hitting you to no longer hit back by ability of spanking (I by no ability have been provided that the two, you attempt to coach your baby to no longer hit yet you're hitting them, does no longer make sense). What you do is carry the baby the place his/her palms, feet, tooth can no longer harm you. shop the baby interior the carry till the baby stops struggling with. this does not harm the baby, and superb ingredient the baby does no longer harm you. I even have had to try this basically a pair circumstances. My boys have by no ability tried hitting me when I discovered this. Heavens forbid in the event that they hit me now, all 3 of them tower over me now.... desire this enables you, it value me some money to study this :0) and it works! BTW; I went up there examining how those everybody is telling you to snatch your little females arm, in case you are trying this and bypass away bruises you ought to think of roughly somebody calling cps on you. A bruised baby is a abused baby. be careful if that's what you pick to do.

Answer 6

I dont understand why people think that by saying "they went to god" is an acceptable answer. Things die- people, animals, plants. Parents are so afraid that their kids will freak out at the subject of death that they never give them the chance to experience it. There was another answerer who said just that- that the body stops working and cannot go on any more. What's wrong with a simple, scientific answer? Maybe Grandma was sick? Maybe she was just old? Who knows? The children will be sad no matter what- it's ok. Don't be afraid of them experiencing emotions of grief and sadness. You cannot protect them forever.

Answer 7

Most children are very strong and adjust well to changes. I think that you should talk to them about how when we are born, after some years, God wants us to come home to Him and be an angel in heaven. Then explained that God want grandma to be an angel so she went to heaven. The good thing is that when we go to heaven one day, we will see grandma again.

Tell them something like that, but take it very slow and let them know that it is okay to cry and feel sad.

Answer 8

DON'T beat around the bush just say great grandmal has gone to heaven and she happy that's it short and sweet hug them tell them you love them then play their favorite game they will be find just tell them so they know and not have to wounder.

Answer 9

Tell them the truth and let them understand that she did not leave them and that she love them, but it was her turn to become and angel and get her wings because she was such a good grandma. Any questions that they ask be honest and answer them they might surprise you of what they ask. They know that she has gone with God they just want to know what happened.

Answer 10

You need to sit them down. And talk to them. That means letting them talk back and ask questions.

Tell them that they wont be able to see Grandma with there eyes anymore, because she had to go to heaven too, (add something here gramma did well.)

Example. " Grandma had to go to heaven to knit pretty blankies for all the babies god sends to the nice families on earth. Because the nice Grandma that did it before her retired."

Let the kids ask questions.

Tell that that althought they cant see Grandmom they can think about her, and talk to her. And she can see and hear them. But she cant reply because she is a very busy angel. And that you all should be feeling lucky to have such a good angel looking over you.

Answer 11

Probably the best way to tell them is to explain to them that their Grandma was called to serve the lord adn that she had to go and help him out to watch over all the little girls and boys and especially them. AND also put a picture of her in their room so that every morining and night they will see her and tell them she will always be there to watch over you