https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:08:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-know-what-to-die-means#post-2606084 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 10:58:28 +0000 Mama Bird 2606084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. DS is almost 4 and doesn't really get that yet. I'm ok with waiting a little longer to have that discussion. It's not going to be that long, really, before he'll know how many things in life suck... including that life ends eventually. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-know-what-to-die-means#post-2606003 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 09:58:51 +0000 Mrs. Pickles 2606003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we've had 3 dogs die within two years and my grandfather died in January so this is a subject we've unfortunately had to deal with. I do agree that it stems from your religious views. We really try to keep it short and say they are no longer with us but are happy in heaven and they won't be coming back. I typically have a death conversation with my four year old at least once a week in the car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-know-what-to-die-means#post-2605995 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 09:51:35 +0000 Alba4 2605995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My almost 3 year old doesn't get it totally yet... Just this morning in the car he was asking about my in-laws' dog, who just died. He was asking a lot of questions about why. I explained the dog was sick, unhealthy, and old (she was 16!!!).but he still seemed dissatisfied with my answer. He was like...why? Then he said, "I'm not old. I'm healthy and strong". This was the first time we've ever really talked about death... well, except for the dead mice our cat leaves on our deck for us! Ha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-know-what-to-die-means#post-2605957 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 09:23:30 +0000 808love 2605957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, she was so sad about the fact that our dog will die one day. She used to pray our dog would live forever and not die. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-know-what-to-die-means#post-2605933 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 09:03:40 +0000 rattles 2605933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 3.5 year old gets it. My 1.5 year old obviously doesn't. We visited my grandmother at the veteran's cemetery last spring and had a funeral this summer. I was surprised that she was as perceptive as she was, and we've talked about it quite a bit. </p> <p>I explained that our bodies eventually wear out and are put back into the ground to help make beautiful trees and flowers grow. Because we're Catholic, I also explained that our souls are what make us who we are and that they go to heaven where we'll all celebrate together one day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-know-what-to-die-means#post-2605912 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 08:47:50 +0000 MamaG 2605912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think 4 is an age to start understanding this concept. My MIL died when LO was 3. At 4.5 LO really started to ask questions about MIL and we had to go through it all again about how she's dead, where she is, why, etc. She's pretty non-emotional about it and it seems to make adults uncomfortable. Recently someone told her about how they were a Nana (older woman in the airport) and LO just looked at her and said, "Oh, my Nana died". The poor lady didn't know what to say next. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-know-what-to-die-means#post-2605904 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 08:44:57 +0000 travelgirl1 2605904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH's uncle died recently and we took both kids to the funeral and burial, which my eldest was fascinated with. My granddad isn't doing too well and DD keeps telling me: "I think he's going to die soon" and "I think he's in heaven now". She does ask a lot of questions and gets a bit upset saying she doesn't want to die, or want us to die. She talks about heaven and how people are reunited with their loved ones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-know-what-to-die-means#post-2605896 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 08:35:46 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2605896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, I was just about to post something about this. My in-laws have a 13 year old dog, and between my husband and I my 3-year-old daughter has three great-grandparents over the age of 95 so this is on my mind. I'm thinking of easing into the topic relatively soon and I feel so over my head!</p> <p>@catlady: I laughed so hard at your "the cat died in the living room!" misunderstanding. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-know-what-to-die-means#post-2605891 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 08:25:08 +0000 catlady 2605891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, at almost 3, she is still confused about this and I'm ok keeping it that way for now. For some reason, she started equating "dying" with vomiting for a short period of time, so we had some moments which freaked me out where she'd run to me with something like "the cat died in the living room!" when actually the cat had a hairball. Lol. I have no idea how that happened but luckily she doesn't make that mistake anymore. She does sort of understand when plants die (aka when they wilt and turn brown). My mom died before she was born and I don't think she really understands the concept of that at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-know-what-to-die-means#post-2605890 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 08:25:07 +0000 BananaPancakes 2605890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think he understands that they go somewhere and we won't see them again. Our dog passed about about a year and a half ago, and he still talks about her regularly. He tells people she died and that he misses her, but is very matter-of-fact about it all. He also likes to act out dramatic deaths now, too, but I think that's a normal kid thing to do. I always try to be as straight to the point about it all without giving too much info because I don't want to make it seem like a big deal.We never told him that we buried the dog or that she's underground, because I think that sounded scary. </p> <p>He goes to a Christian school, so he's fairly content for now believing that everyone gets to go and hang out with God at some point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-know-what-to-die-means#post-2605884 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 08:17:01 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2605884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are Christians so I usually tell my almost 3 year old that blank died and lives with Jesus now. Which I often wonder if that makes Jesus sound scary lol my in laws dog died recently and she asks about her a lot. I just say that she died and is gone now so we can't go see her and she accepts that fairly well. I'm not sure she actually understands but I'm also not sure she's supposed to yet. I don't know. It's a hard thing to explain! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-know-what-to-die-means#post-2605882 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 08:16:03 +0000 lamariniere 2605882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son started asking about it around 3. I think part of the answer really depends on your religion (or lack thereof). I told my son that every living thing dies someday, including people. He immediately equated it to me dying someday and got really upset (and so did I). But I kind of fibbed and told him people don't die until they are older or really sick. I tried to steer the conversation more to things like plants and bugs and dinosaurs. We've had a few friends who have lost dogs recently and we've talked about that and how it's a natural thing. Luckily, we've never had anyone he's close to die, but he knows my mom died. However, it's just a fact to him since it happened well before he was born. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-know-what-to-die-means#post-2605869 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 08:05:28 +0000 Bao 2605869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My girls are 2.5 and just about 4 and I don't think either one understands what this means. Obviously my 2 year old is quite young, but I'm wondering if there's an easy way to explain it to my oldest without scaring her. Our fish died a few weeks back and I said "he died" and I'll often say things like "oh that plant died" or "it's ok the bug is dead"...but I'm not sure they really get it. Obviously those are very minor examples (thank goodness).</p> <p> Is there an age where kids should start to really understand this type of thing? How do you explain it? </p>