Big Questions: We Will Be Visiting My Father Who Has Just Started Using A Wheelchair, How Do I Prepare My Three And A Half Year Old For Seeing Him?
As always, it is important to mirror the emotions that you want your child to have. Before addressing your father's use of a wheelchair, I might start with some simple examples of some other items that help people, i.e. spectacles. If you or another family member wear glasses, I would call attention to the fact that your eyes don't work well and that you need glasses to help you see. You might point out that people are lucky to have devices like glasses and hearing aids, which can help them do things like see and hear better.
After having conversations like that and answering any questions that your child might have, you can refer to your father's use of a wheelchair, because his legs aren't working as well as they used to. Explain that a wheelchair is simply a chair with wheels to help your father get from place to place. If you can facetime with your father to get a preview, even better.
Young children are very trusting and will take their cues from you. Approaching this new development with acceptance and a matter of fact tone will go a long way to reassure your child.
There may even be a ride in it for a certain little someone.