Help!! How do I tell my 4 year old his pet has died???

[MessyMummy15]

Woken up this morning to find one of our pet tortoises has died!! 😫
Absolutely gutted!!
The first thing my son does every morning is go and see if they are awake so not much chance of replacing it before anyone suggests. He'll be up in an hour... what am I suppose to say?? 😭😭

Fuck!! I'm actually wellin up at the idea of telling him. Been able to distract him so far but it's almost time for him to give their breakfast...
I didn't think this would effect me so bad. :/

I had to deal with this last week . Our hamster had to be out down, only 6 months old and belonged to my 4 year old DD. I agonised over how to tell her, but in the end was just honest. She was obviously upset, (as was I, was very fond of that hamster) and asked lots of questions. She immediately asked when we were going to get a new one!

She was determined to bury the hamster herself (i dug the hole). She still talks about her hamster and we always talk about her fondly and how sad we are that she has gone, but she seems fine. We got a new hamster a few days ago, and it has helped as well.

Sit him down and hold his hand. ‘I’m afraid I have some bad news to tell you. Terence died last night. He was very old and it was his body’s time to stop working. I know it’s sad, it’s ok to be sad. I’m sad too.’ And then answer any questions he has. The first question he asks will probably be ‘can I have a new one?’

When our guinea pigs died we had a little burial in the garden and DD drew a picture for them and put it on with them and said goodbye. It’s very important to let him say goodbye.

This is why pets and kids are awesome. Having pets teaches them so much about life, death, love and empathy. Being honest about a pet’s death prepares them for when they start losing humans.

I've told him.
I said that "(the tortoise) got sick in his belly and has died" he asked if he could see the tortoise then asked when he was gonna wake up. I've told him that he won't wake up and we can draw a picture to put on the box before we put it in the garden.
He says what if we put him in the garden and the cats dig and eat him. 😣 but he seems ok.
He's currently sat with the other tortoise (the alive one) and deffo seems sad but at least there's no tears.
They don't explain things like this in the parenting books. :/

So sorry I missed your message Messy Mummy, different timezone! Ah if he's really quite stiff as you describe then I think you can be quite comfortable that he has passed, I'm sorry. Probably no need for vet visit. Hope your little boy is okay x

@Chelonia

A very apt username!