I have a three-year-old son, his father and I broke up two years ago & only recently we just started spending time with our son together for our boy as that’s what we wanted, but his father died very unexpectedly not long ago, the conversation has been had, but we’ve faced three deaths since Christmas, and although he’s three he has a very good idea that dad’s not coming back, I guess I’m looking for ideas for my son to keep his daddy spirit alive at home, a safe place for him to be when he wants to think of him, and I don’t know really if that makes sense? I thought about writing a short story and printing and binding it about our life together before, and lots of nice things about our son being a baby, or I don’t know maybe a little keepsake box, I don’t want a ‘shrine’ we have some pictures in a glass press with fairy lights and things but is there any other suggestions from people that have been in the same situation, we were in a relationship for a couple of years, and it’s been a huge shock. Thanks in advance. X
Maybe ask a family member or someone for a shirt of his to make into a pillow, blanket or a teddy bear!
I’m not sure if this Will help you but when my Father-in-law passed away. We had family and friends record their favorite memories with the grandkids. Also what ever pictures anyone had. It seemed to help
When my mom died, I took my nephew outside to talk to him about it. He was three at the time. He pointed at a star and said that must be her looking down because he never saw that star before. It then became a ritual to pick out a star when we lost a family member. When he was little he would sometimes sit on the porch by himself to talk to his grandma.
A pillow or bear made from dads shirts. Or a blanket. We did that for my husbands entire family when their grandma passed, very special.
Perhaps you could ask different family members to write a story about him and then turn that into a book with pictures.
If you have an videos of his voice, good ones of course. Maybe one saying I love you, get it out into a bear. Build a bear does it 
I have one with my dads voice telling me he loved me.
a photo book with quotes about what they were doing in or when the pictures were taken. A memory book.
My brother just passed this mouth, so grandma had a memory book made of all their pictures together so he can look and see him daily. Sweetest book ever. She had it made at Walgreens
I vote for a teddy made out if dads shirt
My grandson’s mom ( my daughter) passed away when he was 18 months old and he now knows she is in the sky and when the moon is out he talks to her it helps him and I’m so glad for that .
Check out hooray heroes… maybe you can make him a book of stories/ adventures that’s just about him and his Dad.
Also Daddy Dolls are great and they aren’t just for military.
If you have a photo of dad get it printed onto a cushion he can take to bed and cuddle up to it…my mum personally did this gave it to my little girl on her birthday, she absolutely loved it (6 years old) talked to it, slept cuddled up to it, was very beautiful thing to watch and she definitely felt comforted having her dad so close to her
When my dad passed I was five years old . My mom always contributed him in conversations growing up like oh your father was just like that and he would have done this ect… she used to have us write letters to heaven for him. Just be very open . Try to keep him alive in your conversations and every day life .
A scrapbook and a keepsake box is a good idea. He will let you know what he likes best when he gets older. When you find a reason just talk to him abot his dad.
My older children lost their father almost a year ago and one of the best things I found was doing things with them that he liked. Once a month we have a snack day and eat things he liked. I also talked to them about how we met or take them to places he liked. When they ask we visit the gravesite. We’d split up years ago but always made sure to put them first
Write down things before you forget. His favorite food, color, vacation spot, vegetable, book, TV show, etc. Write down your favorite memories of him and memories he shared with you of his childhood. Anything really. Then as time fades it all, you can reference it and tell his son who he was.
Keep sake box, use one of his shirts to make a teddy bear. If u have ANY recording of his voice…take it to build a bear or someplace that can put it in a bear and dress it like daddy. Talk about him.often, answer all questions honestly. Make a photo album for your son with photos of him and his dad. Keep a photo of dad up in the house. Always remind your boy how proud daddy is of him, and how daddy will always and forever watch over him and want him to be a great person. Maybe stars together, and point out that dad is looking over him through the stars. Photo printed on a pillow of either justbdad or the two of them together. Keep the positive love and conversation alive.
Go to shutterfly.com and make a book with pictures that you have of him and family. And him and his dad together. I made a Shutterfly book for my papa ( paternal grandfather) it’s an awesome momento!!
I make teddy bears out of people’s clothes who have passed away
sorry for your son’s loss. He is young, he fully doesn’t understand the whole. Just keep things of his dad’s around & have them available when he wants them. Also a lot of people aren’t aware of this, If you live in the US, you can get SSI for your son until he turns 18 yrs old or until 21 if he goes to college. Basically it is his fathers SS.
My son has a daddy pillow. This has helped him greatly. We also have photo albums of just dad and him which he likes. My son is 10 and he lost dad at 7.
A photo book and if possible maybe a build a bear with dad’s voice
Make a blanket/quilt with his shirts or a memory pillow.
A little photo album is nice. My daughters have one for their friends that were murdered and I have a few pictures of them on our wall in our living room.
Make sure he has lots of pictures of his daddy. My son passed away last year and his son has lots of pictures of his daddy in his room. We don’t want him to ever forget who his daddy is.
I lost my mom at 3 also, I can only tell you to not take his pictures away no matter how much he cry’s
If you have any voice msgs or videos with his voice you can make a build a bear with his voice in it. I know some people who combined different voice examples to say a message. I’m not sure how. If you have access to his clothes, blankets etc you can make a quilt so he can snuggle with Daddy every night. You can even stuff a shirt of his. Print out pictures so he can have a “Daddy book” to look at.
My 5 year olds dad passed away in October 2019. She has a photo album full of his and her pictures. One next 2 her bed also… Iv also sign her up for a greiving for little ones course with other children going through the same thing. I’m based in New Zealand but I’m sure where ever you are there would be some sort of help for your little one. I’m also getting her a teddy made with his voice inside.
It’s a hard road. So many outbursts and breakdowns.
Him and I split years ago but she still loved and spent time with him of course.
They make memory bears they can put his dads face on & even voice in the bear if you have a recording of his voice. But it doesn’t have to be a item it can be a place you go to, it can be taking lunch together at the same place and just talking about something his dad did or said that was funny or loving. Just the effort will keep it going. Condolences & best wishes on your healing journey.
I think the binder is a beautiful idea as he gets older you can share your stories with him and help keep dadS spirit alive in him
Absolutely beautiful mum 
Maybe a little memory shelf with pictures and then a chair he can sit in and talk to dad?
If you can get a shirt or something of his dad’s and find someone who can make a memory bear for him. Maybe a picture of him and his dad next to his bed. If he wants to talk about his dad let him, let him ask you questions even as he grows. Remind him when he does something good (I know he’s not in school yet but even being kind to others) how proud his dad would be of him. Definitely ways keep his memory alive.
I lost my dad very young as well. Just be there when he wants to talk about him. Listen and share memories. That’s the best advice I can give. Don’t let him feel alone in the conversation. As long as he is able to remember him. It’s painful and hard, but as long as he knows if he needs to talk about it he can. I know three is kind of hard but just be there
I think your book idea is really nice. Build -a-bear and make a shirt out of one of dads…if you have his voice recorded anywhere like a voicemail that’d be neat to include too. Also if he has grandparents on his dad’s side then maybe consistent visits with them or other members of his family.
I had a blanket made with pictures
My kids dad died when they were young. I have a photo album full of photos of him and family members also all of his school awards
Create a shrine with photos, an angel figurine and other keepsakes in your home.
My son father past last February if you want to wright me on messager my son was 3 wen his father passed and he is 4 now
I’m sorry for your loss. Definitely give him everything you can to help him remember his dad. My bff lets her daughter let go of balloons of the anniversary of his death every year. They write messages to him and it’s something that makes the child feel a little better.
Save a bunch of photos of his dad, that you give him from time to time as he gets older. My brother passed, and everytime someone shares a photo/video of him that i haven’t seen, it makes me so happy, and it really helps keep his spirit alive. I’m very sorry for your loss
If you have shirts of his you can make a blanket, bear or a pillow out of
I lost my father when I was 3 and my mother never talked about him, and my grandparents on my dad’s side rarely spoke about him. I am 25 now and would have liked to have known anything about him. I always felt like I shouldn’t ask about him or even what happened. Be open about who he was. Don’t make the subject of his father to ever seem like a taboo subject that he shouldn’t bring up.
Make a scrap book story. Also see if you can get videos of him from.different stages of his life continue to celebrate his bday and fathers day. Leave a gift for him from his dad saying from.daddy from heaven
If you can get some clothing here in nz there something called memorial teddies or pillows
The binder is great. Also just story telling about his Dad. My husband died when the kids were 8,5 and 3. He had been sick in hospital for over a year so the youngest doesn’t have much actual memory and it makes him sad sometimes. But the stories and reminders when they do something like their dad or that he’d be proud of helps. They are now 22, 18 and 17.
Go to Blurb and make a memory book of his dad growing up and time spent with him.
Watch the movie coco with him. and set up something to remember him by; his picture and some other things. Sorry for you and your sons loss