Oh dear!

It is a very difficult one. Your GS was acting from pure instinct Lucky.

Prof Iain Hutchinson, an oral-maxillofacial surgeon who started the Facial Surgery Research Foundation and the charity Saving Faces which is linked to it, made a film about a woman with a severe facial disfigurement (which had resulted from an uncontrolled infection) walking down a London street and showed how no-one made eye contact, some looked away and even changed the direction in which they were walking. (the film went on to show how he operated on her and the improvement in her face after surgery).

I don't think you should ignore your GS's comment. I think you should explain that sometimes when babies are growing, things don't always work properly and that is why some children's faces look different, but the boy inside the face is just like him, and that is what matters. Also that the child would be hurt by his comment. At 4, he is old enough to understand that.

Please do explain luckygirl my first DGD was born with a "really rubbish face" and she had a very difficult time at school. To be absolutely fair some children were fine, she had had 3 ops before she was one, but some were really awful. Her best friend now has told her she didn't like her because of her face until she got to know her. Education at your GS's age is the best thing you can do for him.

He will learn with your guidance.

Ds and I took little dgd to see Mr Tumble in the summer and the audience was filled with little ones that had various handicaps and special needs. They had a wonderful time

As long as you explained that the little boy couldn't help his face ( no more than any of us can!) children are painfully honest.Mr Tumble and the something special team do a great job with their programme.