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This questionThis question specifically addresses how to talk to a 5 year old, but I'm curious about younger kids.

I'm not talking about situations where death has become an important event in a child's life and something must be said (like the death of a parent or close relative).

But my toddler occasionally gets into a conversation where I can probably escape the topic, but the only honest answer involves death:

Where's your grandpa, mommy?

or

How come we never visit Uncle David?

So, my question is this:

Are there recommended ages before which the idea of death (or levels of it - animals, people in abstract, people you know, etc.) should be avoided?

Obviously, all kids are different in their intellectual and emotional progress, but I'm trying to get a sense for what average ages, if any, are appropriate for different levels of discussion.

This question specifically addresses how to talk to a 5 year old, but I'm curious about younger kids.

I'm not talking about situations where death has become an important event in a child's life and something must be said (like the death of a parent or close relative).

But my toddler occasionally gets into a conversation where I can probably escape the topic, but the only honest answer involves death:

Where's your grandpa, mommy?

or

How come we never visit Uncle David?

So, my question is this:

Are there recommended ages before which the idea of death (or levels of it - animals, people in abstract, people you know, etc.) should be avoided?

Obviously, all kids are different in their intellectual and emotional progress, but I'm trying to get a sense for what average ages, if any, are appropriate for different levels of discussion.

This question specifically addresses how to talk to a 5 year old, but I'm curious about younger kids.

I'm not talking about situations where death has become an important event in a child's life and something must be said (like the death of a parent or close relative).

But my toddler occasionally gets into a conversation where I can probably escape the topic, but the only honest answer involves death:

Where's your grandpa, mommy?

or

How come we never visit Uncle David?

So, my question is this:

Are there recommended ages before which the idea of death (or levels of it - animals, people in abstract, people you know, etc.) should be avoided?

Obviously, all kids are different in their intellectual and emotional progress, but I'm trying to get a sense for what average ages, if any, are appropriate for different levels of discussion.

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Jaydles
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Is there an age before which you should avoid the concept of death or dying?

This question specifically addresses how to talk to a 5 year old, but I'm curious about younger kids.

I'm not talking about situations where death has become an important event in a child's life and something must be said (like the death of a parent or close relative).

But my toddler occasionally gets into a conversation where I can probably escape the topic, but the only honest answer involves death:

Where's your grandpa, mommy?

or

How come we never visit Uncle David?

So, my question is this:

Are there recommended ages before which the idea of death (or levels of it - animals, people in abstract, people you know, etc.) should be avoided?

Obviously, all kids are different in their intellectual and emotional progress, but I'm trying to get a sense for what average ages, if any, are appropriate for different levels of discussion.