Remember Sara, Grandma died. That means that we won't see her again. Explain your family's spiritual beliefs about death in very simple terms. But be prepared for the likelihood, that your young child may repeat what you say and then behave like he does not understand what death means. Make sure your child doesn't feel at fault.
Young children believe that their thoughts, feelings and words have magical power.
A young child who loses a loved one, will need help understanding that angry feelings or hateful wishes do not cause people to die. Keep a normal routine for your child. You may be concerned about how a death will affect your young child in the long run. You may wonder if they will be depressed later in life or if they will have emotional problems. Rest assured, that a child who has ongoing attention to his needs, a safe and stable routine, and reliable people who care about him, will not have long-term emotional problems.