Parenting a Child with a Chronic Illness
Parenting a chronically ill child is a challenge for any parent. In addition to caring for the child with a chronic illness, parents may also care for other children and a spouse, maintain a job, and juggle all of the demands of caring for a family and home. Decisions must be made that consider the needs of the chronically ill child, along with the needs of the rest of the family. Balancing life, school, medical appointments, and family activities may be create difficulties and challenges. Parents can be very important in helping the chronically ill child, siblings, the other spouse and extended family members cope with the diagnosis. It is a very big job, so here are some tips that might help.
Skills List
- Learn about your child’s illness and treatment
- Commmunicate openly with your children
- Help your child learn to cope with life changes
- Help your other children, spouse and extended family cope
- Prepare your child for procedures and hospitalization
- Maintain as much normalcy as possible
- Set limits, and provide discipline
- Continue normal expectations for your child
- Communicate with your child’s school
- Help your child explain the illness to others
- Accept help graciously
- Empower your child
- Help your child find a buddy with the same illness
- Handle (unsolicited) advice
- Take care of yourself
Hopefully the above suggestions will help your child cope effectively with his or her chronic illness. Parents who are concerned that their child is having significant problems coping should discuss these concerns with their child's health care provider. If necessary, they should request a referral to a mental health professional with experience working with children with the same illness.
For more information, please contact:
Kathy Davis, MSEd, PhD
kdavis2@kumc.edu
(913) 588-6305