Use simple and concrete language
Explain that the person’s body stopped working and they cannot come back. Phrases such as “gone to sleep” or “we lost them” can confuse young children and create new fears.
Answer the question being asked
Give a short, honest answer and pause. Children often return to the same question as their understanding develops. It is fine to say “I don’t know” when there is no certain answer.
Make every feeling welcome
Children may move quickly between crying and playing, or show grief through anger, sleep changes and clinginess. Reassure them that feelings can come and go and that adults will continue caring for them.
Create ways to remember
Photos, drawings, a memory box, stories and small rituals help maintain a loving connection. Offer choices about funerals or memorials and explain clearly what the child will see.
When to seek support. Contact a qualified professional if distress is persistent or severe, the child cannot manage everyday life, or expresses a wish to die or join the person who died.