I think it’s a good idea to explain in very simple terms that living things will eventually go to sleep and not wake up. It’s tricky but just answer all their questions in age appropriate terms.

The death of a pet is a great way to help our kids with dealing with emotions when someone dies. One day they will be confronted with the dead of a human loved one and the death of a loved animal can prepare them already a little bit for these sad events. We hold a little pet funeral in our garden en remember the good moments we have experienced with our pet. We try to make it not too dramatic, just a moment of reflection and saying bye bye

The last time one of the kids pet had to be put to sleep they understood that it was for the best because they saw for themselves how our beautiful cat Smokey was suffering. Just before I took him to the vet he vomited a lot of blood. The kids saw it and I told them that he probably would not come back home and he would be go to heaven and play in the lovely garden of God. They were very upset but realized it was best for Smokey not to suffer any more.

yeah, we went through this with my autistic sons poodle recently. we lay on his trampoline one night and I asked him to find the shiniest star in the sky. He pointed it out to me, and I explained to him that Lillie lives there now, she is in Heaven. She loved us all very much but God needed her to help him make the sky shine. All the best with your journey

We took our son with us to the vet and he said goodbye. Explained to him that his pet was sick and sleepy and not coming home. It was hard but we managed. He is only 2.

I have this experience from a child point of view.

Have a burial. Make a grave marker, a big stone with the name painted on it. Have a little service for the pet. Child apropiate of course. Get flowers for the kids to put on the grave and have a photo of the pet. And for older kids let them draw a picture or maybe just talk about the favorite thing about the pet.

If you cant bury the pet yourself then atleast have a grave marker.

Most important explain the pet got very sick and had to die/go away and cant come back. Maybe say they went to pet heaven if it helps you.

so i hope that it went ok for you. you can have a little memorial type of thing for your pet as well.

Be honest with them. I found with my children it was also good for them to see the animal and say goodbye to them – it helped them know the pet wasn’t coming back.
There are also books available that you could read together.

im sorry for your loss
Definitely be honest.
children are resilient and are often upset and first then ask for a new pet 5 mind

yeah this is a good opportunity to tell children about the life cycle. Tell them in simple terms.

Be honest and matter of fact as young kids often cope really well and it is us the parents who are more sad.