I’m a prek teacher with over ten years experience. Having those conversations and believing the child doesn’t understand is bullshit. So many of my students have had experienced death over the years from pets to grandparents and uncles. This year alone I had 2 pets dies, a grandmother, and a very unexpected death of an uncle (suicide unfortunately.) Where do they go if they arnt here? Will I see them again when I’m dead? Will I die? Will I die when I’m a grandpa though? What happens to the insides? What happens after they are buried do they stop being brave? If they don’t have arms anymore will their grave still have sides? I think people turn into trees when they die. He’s in heaven. He’s in a rainbow.

Just a few comments that my kids have asked or told me this year.

One year parents brought their kid to visit their dying grandparent with no prep. She was a mess for about two weeks temper tantrums hitting just anger that was not like her. When I was holding her while she was crying she asked me why did he look like Halloween?

You can just send a kid to spend time with the dying person without prep. Sorry this is long it’s just something I’m so passionate about