What is the best way to explain death to a 3 year old?

Honesty is the best policy. I feel for you that you need to explain your ex's lie to her. But keeping yur child away from the truth is only the long run going to hurt you. Be honest with her...tell her what happened. It's not bad for children to experience sorrow. But tell her how much better a person may be after they die. Tell her that she was sick and now she doesn't need to be sick anymore. Don't' hide the facts of reality. No one likes death but it is a part of life.

I'm glad you took her to the funeral. I think that was good. Some people make the mistake of telling the kids that the deceased person was "just sleeping." That's the wrong answer because not surprisingly, kids are afraid to go to sleep then. I would tell her that the grandmother died and explain what heaven might be like. If you are religious, ask the pastor to talk to her. Have her draw pictures, or draw pictures together to help think of what heaven might be like. Let her send up a balloon into the sky (heaven) to send to her grandmother. You could attach a card or small gift to the balloon. Let her talk. Tell her she can ask any questions she wants. Ask her if she wants anything to remind her of her grandmother. Don't force anything, just be patient and helpful. Let her visit the grave site if she wants and help her write a note if she wants to. There are many things you can do. Tell her you love her. Every day is so precious and life is gone too fast.

Here is a similar answer to a question I answered a few days ago. I read some information from Babycenter.com. Apart from NEVER telling them the loved one fell asleep and won't ever wake up again, I was told you shouldn't say they went on a "trip" either. Then they might freak if they hear about someone else going on a trip. They would be afraid that person would never come back again. What was explained to me was that a child under 5 really can't grasp the sense of death the way we do (obviously). The best way to explain it is that the loved one was broken and couldn't eat or sleep or play or anything and that the doctors can't "fix" them. Heaven and souls are so abstract for a young child it just confuses them even more.

Just an extra note: I was told that grieving in front of the child shows them that it is ok to miss someone. Don't hide your own tears of you need to cry.

I am so sorry her daughter is going to have to go through it. Good luck and I hope this helps!

I am so sorry to hear that. I agree with you 100% your ex should've told your daughter that he's grandmother was sick and that he was taking her to the hospital. In these kind of situations it is best to be honest with your child ofcourse you have to leave the morbidity aside but talking always helps. My daughter was 3 when her grandmother died she was very close to her she also died of a heart attack, however she didnt make it to the hospital she was out on her morning walks when she had the heart attack. My daughter was very young like yours is right now and she asked about her "mama" we had to sit her down and explain to her that sometimes people have to go, you have to make her understand that nothing lasts forever including her pets death is something that isnt easy to deal with but she is going to have to understand it. My daughter understood that everything and everyone has to die at one point or another pets, plants, people,ect..you have to tell her the reality and the permanency that is death, you cant sugar cote reality because the older she gets the more that she will hurt and the harder its going to be for her to cope with the loss of a relative or even pet!!! granted that death isnt something that is easy by all means, but it is something that has to be discussed and she has to come to terms with. honesty is the best policy. Tell her the truth about her Great Grandma's illness and I am sure that she will understand it and it will be easier for both you and her in the future.

hope this helped

good luck!

Go and tell her this:

You: Sweetie, guess what? Great-grandma is in a happy place.

Her: Where?

You: She went to heaven. She is going to live with him for now on.

Her: Will she come visit?

You: She can't. She's too old. But, I promise that when you grow up, you can go see her. We'll all go. Ok?

Her: ok

.

She will ask more questions but just do things like these

When I was two, and my grandpa died, my mom told me he climbed up a big ladder, to go visit God, and I can visit when I'm older. So, just use your imagination.

fist off your ex husbandshould have told her and second he shouldnt have left you with they respsibility. but tell her gently. take her out to get ice cream or to the park and explain to what happenes when you get old and tell her that great grandma had to go to a better place.

hope this helps.

this is very hard to do i know myself as i had to tell my 5 yr old daughter that her daddy had died, i told her the truth that her daddy had died and he now lives in heaven looking after the angels. now she believes he is in the moon and watches over her at night when she sleeping. i think it was easy on her as now she knows she cant see him she thinks he still sees her xx

I don't let my little ones deal or experience this type of situation. At age 10-12 you cannot help it but three is way too early.Grandma had to go bye bye. I'm no psycho-.Just a parent of three. Good luck and I'm sorry for your loss

A few years ago my grandfather died. There were cousins and nephews who were under 3. We told them that grandpa was sleeping. At that age, we felt it was too scary to tell them people die.