Being diagnosed with a health condition, especially a serious one, can feel very overwhelming at any age. Now, going through this experience as a young child—that can be incredibly stressful! That being said, children are notoriously resilient, adaptable, and strong. How we frame our child’s health diagnosis and empower them to have a positive outlook is key.

Here are some tips to help you best support your child through their health diagnosis, treatment, and beyond.

Communicate Clearly & Honestly

Children are really rather adept at understanding the world around them, and they’re very observant. They might not fully comprehend everything, but they do pay attention. For this reason, they can sometimes tell if you’re being deceptive or handling a problem they know exists without filling them in.

This is why explaining your child’s health diagnosis and condition to him/her is so important! It’s best to do this gently, without exaggeration, and in terms that they understand. For example, you might explain why you’ll need to give them insulin or check their blood sugar.

Connecting and bringing your child into the conversation(s) meaningfully will help them accept what’s happening and feel more confident despite any setbacks or changes to their daily life.

Maintain A Routine

Health conditions can feel chaotic to understand and live with, and so balancing that with routine can be key. This way, health appointments and products become a part of normal life (rather than stressful).

A schedule can also allow you to help your child sustain their energy and check everything off of their list. From testing sugar levels and working through mealtimes, to using their inhaler or wearing their affordable hearing aids, you’ll help your child know what to expect.

This way, health (and life in general!) becomes regulated, easy to manage, and far less stressful.

Praise & Unite

A child loves feeling that they’re doing a good job, and you can certainly praise them for being strong, brave, and capable. Even if they’ve been worried, or upset, or have encountered difficulty managing their condition or emotions, they deserve praise all the same.

Small surprise treats here and there, spending quality time with them, and helping them play with friends can allow them to feel loved, united, nurtured, and comforted.

There’s no better environment for a child to thrive, and a little extra love can help them feel a little less worried about the future.

And for you and your child alike, remember this: There are so many individuals with health conditions, and so many of them are living full, exciting, and comfortable lives. . . and you can, too!

 

Featured Image Credit:NCI