Explaining loss of a grandparent to a 3 year old

For those that have gone though this, what wording have you used?

We're not religious so I just want a gentle way of sharing with our 3 year old that her grandmother is no longer with us?

Suggestions?

Re: Explaining loss of a grandparent to a 3 year old

No advise but

Re: Explaining loss of a grandparent to a 3 year old

So sorry for your loss.

Our son has sent balloons up to heaven for his loved ones to keep for him. I know this is religious, but it keeps him from freaking the freak out when he accidentally lets one go.

Re: Explaining loss of a grandparent to a 3 year old

I am so sorry for your loss. I'm not really sure how much they will understand. I just lost my step father & my 4 yo just understood it. We have discussed death in regards to Jesus, pets, people who are sick, etc; so it wasn't totally a new concept.

I'm not sure of the circumstances, but in ours his health wasn't 100%, so we were able to use that as backup to reinforce we are not going anywhere. I read that is a thought kids can have, so be careful about people making statements about angels coming & them going to a better place.

We told her people will be sad (grandma will need lots of kisses), & there will be crying, they need to know grieving is ok & a part of life. This also prepars them for what they would see.

We weren't going to have her go into the wake, but she wanted to say good-bye. She chose to take a flower out of our arrangement & place it on him & kiss him.

You know your child & their emotional level. Make the best judgement.

Re: Explaining loss of a grandparent to a 3 year old

tell the truth in a way she can understand.
DD knows that people go to Heaven...my grandmother died last summer and i told her Granny was reaaaally old and died and went to Heaven. she knows when she points to the sky that is where people go and at this point that is all she needs.
stay away from she was sick, hurt or went to sleep because those things can scare them when they get sick, hurt or go to sleep.
DD has been spoken to about death from a very young age so i know its different to start at 3, but she is still young enough for a simple answer.

Re: Explaining loss of a grandparent to a 3 year old

We really liked the book "The Fall of Freddie the Leaf" which explains death in a way children can understand. It is not based on religion, and doesn't speak about going to Heaven. It explains that the leaves go through changes in life and eventually fall from the tree, and though they won't return in the spring, life will always continue. It is a very well-done book.

As far as a discussion, we just talked about how while the person is gone, and we are sad about that, we will still love them and the memories of the person.

We didn't use euphamisms like "passed" or "went to sleep", instead we used words like death and died. We emphasized that the "sick" was so different than the regular colds and sniffles so as not to scare them about dying.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Re: Explaining loss of a grandparent to a 3 year old

I like the idea of saying that the person has become a guardian angel

Sorry for your loss