Believe this or not, but children as young as 18 months old begin to think about and
understand what is going on around them. It is important to be honest
and tell your children that you are sick and the doctors are working to
make you better. Telling them the truth is better than letting them
imagine the worst. Give your children time to ask questions and express
their feelings. And if they ask questions that you can't answer, let
them know that you will find out the answers for them.
When you
talk with your children, use words and terms they can understand. For
example, say "doctor" instead of "oncologist" or "medicine" instead of
"chemotherapy." Tell your children how much you love them and suggest
ways they can help with your care. Share books about cancer that are
written for children. Your doctor, nurse, or social worker can suggest
good ones for your child.
Let other adults in your children's
lives know about your cancer. This includes teachers, neighbors,
coaches, or other relatives who can spend extra time with them. These
other adults may be able to take your children to their activities, as
well as listen to their feelings and concerns. Your doctor or nurse can
also help by talking with your children and answering their questions.
Or you can ask them if there's a child-life specialist on staff. This is
a person who can help children understand medical issues and also offer
psychological and emotional support.
"What the family talks about in the evening, the child will talk about in the morning."
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