Explaining death to a toddler

[EvadneLannis]

My Dad died shortly after my DS turned a year old. My DS is now a chatty 22 month old with good comprehension. We look at pictures of Grandad and talk about him but I haven't really tried explaining death (maybe I should have sooner?). I feel that it is appropriate to begin explaining Grandad died and that it means we don't see him anymore but I am not sure the best way to go about it. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations for resources that deal with talking about death to very young children?

As your father has already died you won't need to sit and formally explain but just regularly talk about him and always say that he has died. I say matter of fact to my children that the person's body didn't work properly anymore and so they died but that the memory of the person lives in is family and friends. I also regularly say things like you have his nose eyes etc or your Grandad liked xyz like you...it seems to have just grown a memory and attachment onto children who would not have had the memory.
For most young children their first experience of an actual death is that of a pet so again it's another way to chat about it. You can get some really good books but I don't think that is necessary in your case as your son is not grieving.

What PP said.

I told my 2yr11mth old that his body stopped working so we wouldn’t be seeing him again.

I also had to explain because of this that visits to the doctors, hospitals etc doesn’t mean we are always so poorly though.

It was going fine until my shitty MIL chose to tell her (without discussing it with me or DH first) that he has simply gone to a different house. I had to step in quickly and say it was a house we won’t be seeing. Fucks sake.

Sorry to hear your news, OP

Thank you very much, that is very practical and reassuring, also some lovely ideas of how to include my Dad's memory in our family life.