Tips
For Parents Supporting a Sick Child
FOCUS ON YOUR CHILD'S FEELINGS Encourage
your child to talk about his or her feelings and don’t be afraid to ask
questions. Asking children what they are thinking and feeling does not
create new fears; it simply gives them a chance to express the fears they
already have. Tell your child that it is okay to feel sad and cry.
BE HONEST Talk with
your child about treatments and procedures but remember that your child
doesn’t expect you to know everything. If your child has questions that
you cannot answer tell him or her that you will try to find the answers.
REMEMBER YOUR CHILD IS STILL A NORMAL KID Help your
child keep in touch with family and friends by writing letters and/or drawing
pictures. If your child is school age, encourage him or her to keep up
with school work and classmates.
SET LIMITS During this
period, your child may challenge the rules you’ve set. It’s important that
you don’t bend them. At the same time, let your child have some control;
this allows your child to grow inspite of the needed restrictions.
ENJOY EACH OTHER Despite
all that is going on, your child is the same person as before, with the
same emotional needs as any other growing child. Take some time each day
to love and enjoy each other as much as you can.
CONCLUSION Hopefully
these suggestions can serve as a guide to your family. Remember, successful
caregiving involves being able to maintain a balance between meeting your
own needs and the needs of your child. Sustaining this balance puts you
well on the way to healthy caregiving.
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