Hello!

My son has only just turned 5 and is coming home from prep talking about his toys dying etc. I don’t know how to approach the subject and I don’t really like hearing it. He had a very sick Poppa last year, and I really don’t want him making a connection that his Poppa nearly died…as it is – he said to me just the other day that ‘Poppa’s getting old and he’s going to die soon’ (only in his fifties!!) Pick.chin.up off floor kinda moment! Thanks in advance.

Posted by anon, 22/7/13

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  • Look, someone’s obviously raised this with him, and you have to be honest. I suggest something simple: sometimes when your body gets too sick or old to work properly, you die. That means you go away and can’t come back.


  • Be straight up front, its a part of life!


  • Just tell them the truth


  • He’s just exploring something new that he’s discovered.. He may be discovering these from friends at school etc. Watch cartoons that have death included such as lion king and discuss with him what happened.


  • Just talk to him about it, it is something he needs to know about, my granddaughter lost her great nan two years ago and because we talked to her about it prior she dealt with it rather well she is 6 now and was 4 when my mother passed


  • I am interested in knowing how you dealt with this.


  • It is a fact of life that kids have to deal with sometimes, mot kids experience it first through a pet dying


  • Hope you managed to find a way to approach it with him


  • Probably best to have a chat to a grief counsellor…? They may have some strategies


  • I hope you’ve had success


  • I know that there are some good books available for talking with children about death which might be helpful. I’d start by asking why he says his toys are dying as it may be something quite innocent.


  • How did you end up approaching it?


  • How did it go with talking to your 5 year old?


  • Yes the truth is I good way to start


  • tell him the truth and I hope it all goes well


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