Autism & Grief

     How do we explain death to Autistic children?  For a child so young, Teagan has known more grief than he should, in my opinion.  His first experience with grief was when his most beloved Great Great Grandmother Libby died when he was 5 years old.  He didn't understand it then, but as he gets older, he understands the loss of his Mamaw, understands that we can't see her anymore, but doesn't really understand why.  Then he lost his first dog, Polo, who had to be put to sleep.  Then, a few months after that, we learned that a year before, his best friend, his very first best friend for 3 years since he was 3 had died by drowning.  He was also Autistic. 

     These losses, especially those of his Mamaw and his friend, Grayson, are really starting to affect him, he cries for them several times a week, and I do not know how to console him or make him understand that death is a part of life, and sometimes we can't keep those we love.

     So how do you explain to an Autistic child the ways of life and death?