Explaining Death to Preschooler

My daughters were 2 and 5 when their great grandma passed a little over a year ago. They got to see her and say goodbye, I would have taken them to the funeral if there was one. Its very important to tell them honestly and explain it. There's a book, it might be called "nana and papa upstairs" or similar that I've heard is good. My kids had angel bears made from nana's clothes by my sister that they love to talk to and sleep with. I'm sorry for your family's loss. My brothers funeral they hired one of the girls who works in the church nursery to watch the kids, that was nice.

first I'm sorry about your families loss. i disagree about him being to young my nephew attended my fathers service when he was 2 1/2 and i took my son to my grandfathers last ____@____.com did very well, i explained to him that great grandpa was in heaven with papa, but his body was still here to say goodbye to. every kid is different you know what your child can handle.

First I would like to say that I'm sorry for your loss.
My grandma just passed away and the way I explained was like it this...I got a candle and lit it, I told my girls that the candle and it flame represented the life that she had her on earth, then I blew the candle out and told them that the smoke was her spirit going u to heaven. With the visual they understood what all that meant. As for the viewing and the funeral, I say too young because he is not going to understand why she can't talk, hug, or do anything she usually did when she was alive. I did not take my 4yr old or my 5yr old to either one for the same reason.

I would ask him what he wanted to do and explain that the grandmother will look like she's sleeping but only her body is there, she's not. Tell him he could look at her but not talk to her, etc. If he wanted to go I would take him. Our kids always went to funerals with us and none are affected by it now. We did explain that the person was not coming back and only the body there so they understand. We told them the person was in Heaven. I would definitely tell your son as you said he saw her recently. If you want him to care about people you tell him when they are no longer here, not let him think the person he saw is just no longer there but why. He won't understand that at all either.

If you've explained to him about the animals death's, I do believe you owe it to him to explain this one. He obviously knew her well, and was accustomed to seeing her on a regular basis. He'll be ok - just explain that she's in heaven (if that is your belief) and that she is an angel watching over him now. That's what I did with my 7 and 3 year old when their great grandmother died. Expect for him to be sad and cry, and it is ok for him to see you cry to. I think it's healthy for kids to understand it is OK to cry and grieve. It's part of life and part of the healing process. If you think he can sit through the funeral service, then take him. If he would become bored or distractive, get a sitter.

Sorry for your loss.

When my father-in-law passed away about five years ago, my nephew (5yo)was at the viewing and the funeral. I feel that he handled it very well considering his mother and grandmother had explained that Pop-pop was in heaven and that it was just his body in the casket. He was so cute, when he said, "It's not just his body, it's his head too!" However, I feel that it was too much for my nephew, at the cemetary, to see them lower the casket in the ground.