It can be a challenging time for most of us, but the concept of death and grief is perhaps hardest to understand for children.

Key points: New Play School episode discusses issue of death

New Play School episode discusses issue of death Child trauma experts say to use blunt, simple language when talking to kids

Child trauma experts say to use blunt, simple language when talking to kids Parents welcome episode and share their own family conversations

Now, for the first time in 53 years, the ABC show Play School has tackled the issue directly with a new episode about beginnings and endings.

Presenter Emma Palmer wrote the episode and said it was a sensitive topic that experts felt needed to be properly addressed.

"We so often don't talk about these issues until they become an issue for our family," she said.

"And it's really hard to tackle that tough stuff when you're actually experiencing some kind of trauma or grief or loss."

The Play School episode gets into the issue on multiple fronts, including the character of Little Ted mourning the death of his fish Swish and being comforted by friends.

Co-presenter Alex Papps also speaks about the death of his grandmother and shares a special memory album of her.

Play School presenter Alex Papps talks about his grandmother's death. ( ABC )

And Palmer reads the Mem Fox book Sophie, which tells the story of a girl's bond with her grandpa and includes details of his death.

As Palmer reads on the show:

Grandpa isn't very well. He's in a hospital bed. And there's the nurse looking after him. And there's Sophie holding her grandpa's hand. And then, there was no Grandpa. Just emptiness and sadness for a while. Sophie's grandpa has died. He was very old and his body stopped working.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 50 seconds 50 s Mem Fox's book Sophie proved a good way to talk about death.

'Don't try to cushion the wording'

Play School sought input from the National Centre for Childhood Grief, which helped guide the language used in the episode.

"The advice that we received was that you've got to use really frank, direct language with kids, you can't speak euphemistically," Palmer said.

"Because if you use a phrase like 'passed away,' that doesn't mean anything to a child. Or that, you know, 'Grandpa is up in the sky'.

"In fact, it can cause more confusion: 'What does that mean? Is Grandpa going to fall from the sky?' Or passed away: 'Where's he gone?'"

Palmer said it felt strange to use such blunt wording, but that was because adults were often more awkward about discussing death than kids.

"We cushion it for fear of actually having to look the issue directly in the eye," she said.

"But when you speak specifically with kids they get it and that actually gives them the clarity that they need in such a confusing time."

Palmer drew on her experience talking to her four-year-old daughter, and having to discuss the death of their own family members.

"The key message is to actually, start the conversation when you're in a sunny phase of life as a family so that you can equip those pre-school-aged kids to really cope in the more difficult times," she said.

"It can be as simple as talking about a leaf falling from a tree that's crinkled and clearly doesn't have signs of life anymore … and just to start it in a really gentle way and then tailor it to your family, to what's appropriate for you and your values and your beliefs."

'Intelligent and useful episode'

The episode has been lauded by many parents, who said it was emotional but well-handled by the long-running children's show.

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It also prompted some people to share their own experience discussing death with kids, and how they felt the direct approach was best.

"My dad was in his 90s and I had to travel a lot to be with him after he got ill. My granddaughter, aged 6, said, 'Is he going to die?' So I simply said 'Yes'. She had worked it out for herself. Speaking plainly was the best thing," Trish Roberts said.

"My six-year-old grandson asks my husband and I every time we see him how old we are, and we cannot ever say too old as he gets stressed. We are both mid-sixties. I welcome ABC addressing this," Julie Jones said.

The episode also rounds out the circle of life, emphasising the "beginnings" part with the news of Palmer's pregnancy — she has since given birth — and inviting a friend's baby, Clara, on the show.

Baby Clara and mum Kate join Emma Palmer on Play School. ( ABC )

Alongside the show, Play School has also released educational notes for parents and educators, including strategies for helping a child dealing with loss.

They include:

Provide loving support to allow them to grieve in whatever way they need.

Provide loving support to allow them to grieve in whatever way they need. Know they can ask any questions and be answered truthfully, in age-appropriate language.

Know they can ask any questions and be answered truthfully, in age-appropriate language. Talk with a trusted person about how they are feeling.

Talk with a trusted person about how they are feeling. Remember it's OK to cry and feel sad.

Remember it's OK to cry and feel sad. Include children in family rituals and other family experiences.

Include children in family rituals and other family experiences. Share happy memories of the person, or pet, who has died.

Share happy memories of the person, or pet, who has died. Maintain a 'normal' daily routine as much as possible.

Maintain a 'normal' daily routine as much as possible. Get out in the fresh air, exercise and have fun!

Get out in the fresh air, exercise and have fun! Sometimes, particularly when the whole family is grieving, professional help is needed.

"What we're hoping is that this is a really terrific starting point for people to begin that conversation," Palmer said.

You can watch the episode, Beginnings and Endings, on ABC iview.