help me tell DS about Grandpa

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My FIL passed away a few hours ago. DH and I are not British so he left 5 am with a train to Stansted to fly there immediately. DS and I will fly this afternoon, will pick him up from school lunch time.

DS knows Grandpa was sick but not more than that - he is 6 but with a language delay which he has almost caught up with, but we have never had deeper conversations as until a few months ago his understanding was limited.

We then gave up with the home language and started speaking English at home so now he is generally ok with simple explanations. What can I tell him? English is my second language as well and the topic is difficult - he has spent a lot of time with FIL as my PIL stayed with us for 3 years from DS being 2 months old until the end of the first lockdown and we have visited every holiday.

DS still sleeping bless him...

I'm not an expert. But I would just gently tell him. Young children don't always understand the permenance of such a thing and that can be a blessing. If he cries or gets upset, that is the normal response. I'm very sorry for your loss x

I’m so sorry about your FIL.
I think the best way is to be truthful and clear. My friends husband had to tell his 5 year old son that his grandpa who he was exceptionally close to had passed away. Friends son seemed to take it on board, asked a few questions and then got on with life, but about 2 weeks later he had a real meltdown one day and admitted he missed his grandpa.
So be prepared for him to seem ok with it, but get upset at a later date.

Sorry for your loss.
I googled and found charity advice, was helpful for me
https://www.childbereavementuk.org/telling-a-child-that-someone-has-died

Be clear don't use words like fell asleep. That can make concerns about going to sleep.

Use the big word "died". And tell him how sad you are and that crying is ok as you will all miss him.

I'm sorry for your loss.

I don’t think he’s going to remember much about your FIL living with you when he was 0-3, especially if he now lives in another country.

Simple and truthful is best with children that age. Agree with using the word died rather than fell asleep as that can be worrying for children when others go to sleep to rest. Don’t use things like passed away as that’s is confusing at his age.

Explain that daddy and other family may feel sad and that’s ok because they’ll miss him. Tell him it’s ok to feel sad, it’s also ok to not feel sad. Let him ask questions if he wants to.