School-aged children (6 to 12 years)
School-aged children (6 to 12 years)
- Explain the diagnosis and the treatments to him
- Include him in all discussions with the doctors
- Answer his questions sincerely and simply, even if he asks you if he’s going to die (ask the medical team for help on how to answer this type of question)
- Be attentive - he might not be able de express his fears and emotions
- Make sure he understands that it’s not his fault that he’s sick
- Help him express his emotions and reassure him that they are justified (rage, fear, sadness)
- If he doesn’t want to share his emotions, do not insist
- Suggest that he keeps a personal diary
- Make sure he has fun things to do every day
- If possible, do physical activities
- Help him keep in touch with his friends, brothers and sisters, and family members he’s close to (laptop, phone, visits)
- Make plans for his return to school with his doctors and teachers
- Make him laugh
- Try to help him meet children his own age who are going through the same ordeal