explaining disability to a young child - the best way?

[Glassofslime]

DS has recently made friends with a boy who has an older brother with a disability. DS is 3 and has been invited to play at his friends house, he is at the age where he is likely to say something inappropriate ie. recently asked a mum at school why she was fat! So I want to simply explain that he friends brother has a disability, but I'm not sure about the right was to go about it so that he a. understands and b. doesn't say anything inappropraiate. I hope that exposure to the family will mean that ds will grow up respecting and understanding this boy, but am just concerned that while ds is so young he might say something upsetting. Unfortunately I don't know the mother too well yet, so I'm not sure how she might react.

I doubt she'll mind too much what a 3 year old says (tbh I think they often ask questions at that age rather than say something inappropriate). What type of disability is it? I tend to use "X finds it difficult to do.....Y"

I'm not sure what the disability is, but he is in one of those buggies for older children, he is physically twisted and often makes loud noises. I'm not sure if he is able to walk etc I guess because I'm only just starting to get to know the mum and I know from other people that she's had a tough time over the last few years I wary of putting my foot in it.

bumping this as i was wondering the same thing. My DS is a gawper but out of curiosity rather than anything else.

sounds like cp. Diagnosis doesn't really matter all you need to say is "x finds it difficult to walk and talk so he sometimes has to sit in a wheelchair and might make some funny noises".

My best friend has muscular dystrophy & I've always just answered dd's questions honestly & she's never said anything inappropriate. Most people find young children's attitudes refreshing as they are just curious & generally not offensive, plus they normally ask the person what's wrong, whereas a lot of adults speak to their carer or companion. Not applicable in your situation but he may prove an icebreaker to the conversation that you feel awkward about starting with the boys mother. I don't think DD grasps that the doctors can't make my friend 'better' but she's only just turned 5.