Please I desperately need advice how to explain to DS (4) that his best friend from school has passed away :(

[QwertyQueen]

We have just been told by the school, and I am in huge shock. Simply the MOST gorgeous little boy and friend to my son, he is going to be devastated.

karen

How sad, I really feel for your son and the other boys parents. I think that you are doing the right thing, just make sure you do let him cry and tell him it is ok to be sad and to miss X. Are you going to the celebration in the park? It might help your son and it sounds like it would be more 'child friendly' than a traditional funeral.

Perhaps once you have all had time for it to sink in you could try and arrange something as a positive memory for X. Maybe fundraise to do something in his name

What a heartbreaking tale. Thinking of you and your son, and the poor family involved.

KarenHL so sorry to hear your story too. You sound so strong in such a heartbreaking situation. I'll be thinking of you and your family in the coming week. God speed for your little one

Absolutely heartbreaking. Another mum at my kids' school lost her 5 year old daughter to meningococcal septicemia inside 24 hours. That was 15 years ago and she says she'll never get over it. It was this time of year, too.

The dd was in reception class and at Christmas when she would have been in year 6 her former classmates did a dance routine dressed as angels with the reception class girls. The mum really appreciated it.

If it's any consolation the little girl's friends didn't seem adversely affected for too long afterwards. I'm sure it's the sort of thing that will revisit them in later years rather than having a dramatic effect at the time beyond the first few weeks.