How to tell a 4year old

[Mum2boys1girl]

How do I tell my tell my 4 year old son that his great grandma is going to die soon?
She has cancer she beat twice but its come back and thought she had 6months but it has spread fast is getting weaker everyday.
He sees every weekend and very close always asking for her. I just don't know how to explain to him any advice would be appreciated

I recently had to tell my 4yo dd that her nana had to go up to the sky. She was sad, and still is at times, but children are very resilient and take things in their stride. Her great grandma passed away a couple of months later and she knows that they are much happier where they are now and not in pain. Everyone will have a different version along the same lines.

ok thank you

Sorry for your situation and for your poor granny.

I've not been in this situation, but I do have a 4yo. Tbh I think I would say she is poorly but not say anything about her being expected to die.

I would deal with the death conversation after the event, using language like "her body was too poorly and she could not get better, so it stopped working. We won't see her again which is very sad, but we can remember her in our heads"

My MIL recently passed away. She was in hospital & we knew she wasn't going to live. We told him that she was in hospital and feeling unwell.

After she died, we told him, using the words 'died' and said although we were very sad because we will miss her dreadfully, we are very happy for her that she is no longer feeling unwell & is at peace.

We're not religious but have told him she's gone to heaven & is very peaceful. He received this news with no issue. We brought him to the funeral, including the burial & I think it was really good for him. He felt part of it all, surrounded by his family & it was great having him there.

He was very close to his grandmother & saw her very regularly as she lived locally. A few questions are starting to filter through but he's been absolutely fine.

My advice is don't use any confusing terms - i.e shes sleeping etc as it could cause him anxiety about going to bed. Only give him as much info as he needs - granular detail not necessary & promote open communication. Let him know that you're ready to talk / answer questions if he has any. Also, don't be afraid to let him see you cry - explain why you're sad.

All the best.

At four they are very matter a fact, slightly diff as our dog who DC adored was put to sleep. He was very much X is dead, he’s not here anymore, he’s died.
They’ve explored death at nursery as it must have come up in conversation. One of the nursery staff members dad died when she was younger and they asked her why she didn’t have a daddy etc. They dealt with it all fab.
I find at that age they will ask questions, what does dead mean... what does died mean... will X come back. Will I see them again etc. So be ready with answers to these questions. But I would be honest and doesn’t use ambiguous language

I'd be honest and say she is very poorly. When she's died, I'd say she's gone to a better place and she's having a lovely time. And explain that is what happens at the end of our lives. Just be honest I think, but don't make it sound scary, make it sound peaceful and happy.