This advice is most appropriate for parents with children in...
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School
Middle School
High School & Beyond

Age of your child at time of loss:
3

What type of loss did your child experience?
Loss of a loved one

Please briefly describe the loss and the emotions your child experienced.
I lost my husband last year when my daughter was only 3. She does not like to visit the cemetry as she does not really understand that her daddy's body is there but his soul is not. I tried to explain it so she could understand more by saying that its like when a caterpillar turns into a chrysalis and then they come out as a butterfly they dont need the chrysalis anymore and they fly upto heaven. We made up photo albums and I made up videos so when she feels like it she can go to them anytime. We both get upset at different times but we always talk about it when we feel like it.

How did you help your child deal with his or her emotions? How did you help your child regain a sense of normalcy?
She could relate more to it as she had seen what happened to the butterfly. She proudly takes out "our special album" and shows friends and loved ones. We sometimes visit Daddy's grave with 'something special' to leave in the box her uncle made for her to be able to leave things there. Then her grandparents retrieve them and will keep them for her when she is old enough. I hope this may give her an insight into feelings she had for her father when she was little and how much she loved him. She may be too young to remember them without assistance as she gets older.

Please add any additional comments or suggestions:
I just want to say thank you for this site, it's nice to have something to relate to and maybe learn from.