How to explain to a 3 year old

[BewitchedBotheredandBewildered]

I keep meaning to ask my daughter what she has told her son about the current situation, but can't when he's there obviously and am trying to respect her time with her husband when DGC has gone to bed.

It is very likely that they will have to move out of their rented house and strong possibility that they will be living very near us.

In normal circumstances this would be a wonderful turn of events.
But DH and I have high blood pressure and I have lung damage, which is why we can't have them to live with us, we will be helping financially.

I know lots of you have children of that age.
How have you explained the situation to them?

I just can't imagine being able to "social distance" from a 3 year old so the only option is going to be not see them, but they'll be next door.

Any clues or tips from any of you who are in this position would be very gratefully received.

It's just all so fucking sad and difficult isn't it.

Oh, and I know it's late, I'll have to fall off my perch soon.

Thanks for any answers.

Honestly and simply-
We can’t spend time with grandma and grandpa because some people are getting poorly. When everyone is better we will see lots of them.
FaceTime instead.

We do facetime most days.

Does a 3 year old understand?

Thank you very much for replying, it's all so distressing

Same as above really. There is a germ out there that makes people sick and we don’t want to get it. He seems to have understood. Sometimes will say can I go to grannies or can I go to preschool but when I mention the germ he accepts it quite happily.

Thanks MrG, they are amazingly accepting of changing circumstances aren't they.

I just can't bear the idea that he thinks we're rejecting him in any way.

He's stayed with us for a night or a weekend every month or so since he was about a year old, so it's a huge wrench .

It’s hard. We FaceTime every day and that seems to satisfy him. At the moment my parents are missing him more than he misses them as three year olds live day to day. If it goes on a long time that might change of course

You could just say it's the coronavirus. My 4 year old knows this, and knows why we can't go to the park and soft play for a while.

I've asked her this morning and she said more or less what you all have.

Plus that the Prime Minister has asked us all to stay indoors!

Thanks all.

There's a good playmobil video explaining it - with playmobil people. I played it to DD2 who got distracted composing her playmobil wishlist.

Thanks Kuponut I'll tell her about that.

I've told my three year old that there is a bad bug outside that could hurt daddy, granny or nanna. And, as a result, the playground has been closed, nursery is shut, we can't go to the park, there isn't a huge choice of food in the house, and we can't see granny or nanna for a while.

Germs.

We've told her we have to stay home alone because of some bad germs and it won't last forever. She is satisfied.