Young Loss

Explaining death to a four year old

Ellie Fraser · 6/9/2026

We used plain words in the end, no "gone to sleep". Hardest conversation of my life and she handled it better than I did. Happy to share the books that helped us.

Replies

Susan Wainwright · 6/11/2026

Plain words, always. Thirty years of teaching and the euphemisms confused every child I met.

Amara Bello · 6/26/2026

Please do share the books. I'm facing this with a five year old next month.

Ellie Fraser · 7/16/2026

Of course. Badger's Parting Gifts and The Invisible String were the two we came back to most.

Fiona McAllister · 8/15/2026

Expect the same question again in six months. It's not a failure to explain, it's how they process it.

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