How to Talk to Kids About Death and the Loss of a Grandparent

Explaining death to a child and navigating the loss of a grandparent while parenting is one of the hardest emotional tightropes many of us will ever walk.

In this episode, I sit down with licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Liz Ross to talk about how to help a child grieve the loss of a grandparent, all while managing your own grief at the same time.

Whether you're dealing with an unexpected death or a long illness, this conversation is here to offer you real, compassionate guidance on explaining death to a child. We talk through the developmental stages of understanding death, how kids process loss at different ages, and what to expect emotionally, in your kids and in yourself.

Dr. Ross and I also share personal stories from our own lives and offer practical strategies for how to talk to kids about death in ways that are developmentally appropriate, emotionally supportive, and actually helpful.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why your child might seem "fine" after the loss of a grandparent at first—and what that really means (And why you might be surprised when questions about death show up weeks or months later.)
• How to talk to kids about death without overexplaining—or leaving them with scary gaps
• The developmental stages of understanding death—and what kind of questions are totally normal
• What helps when your child is grieving the loss of a grandparent
• Why taking care of your own grief is part of explaining death to a child

If you're wondering how to help a child grieve the loss of a grandparent, or you're struggling with how to talk to kids about death in a way that doesn’t scare or confuse them, this episode is for you.

LET'S CONNECT:

Thriving Child Center

PCIT Experts

Instagram

Want more parenting tips? Join our newsletter for expert advice straight to your inbox!

Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!

CONNECT WITH DR. LIZ ROSS:

Coping Resource Center

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn