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Tips for talking to kids about serious illness (from Harvard Health Publishing):
Be age-appropriate. The amount of detail and complexity will depend on the child's age. Use simple, straightforward language to avoid confusion and feelings of being overwhelmed.
Find a good time and place for the talk. Give yourself enough time to give your child undivided attention. Also, know that you might not have all the answers in this first conversation, so revisit and talk more as needed.
Encourage questions and be prepared for any reaction. Talk about how this affects the child. Kids need to be able to prepare for necessary changes. Some kids might be angry, sad or seem not to react at all. Check in with your child to make sure questions are being asked and catch any delayed reactions that may come up.
Check out these titles to help you start a healthy conversation.
Easy
Now One Foot, Now the Other by Call Number: EASY DEPAOLAISBN: 9780399242595Publication Date: 2005-05-19
Fiction
Just Like Jackie by Call Number: JUV FICTION STODDARDISBN: 9780062652911Publication Date: 2018-01-02
Mustaches for Maddie by Call Number: JUV FICTION MORRISISBN: 9781629723303Publication Date: 2017-10-03
Wink by Call Number: JUV FICTION HARRELLISBN: 9781984815149Publication Date: 2020-03-31A hilarious and heartwrenching story about surviving middle school--and an unthinkable diagnosis--while embracing life's weirdness.
Nonfiction
Bobby and Grandma by Call Number: JUV 616.994 MARZINSKISBN: 9781542737425Publication Date: 2017-02-22
Harry Goes to the Hospital by Call Number: JUV 362.1989 BENNETTISBN: 9781433803192Publication Date: 2008-03-15
My Grandpa Had a Stroke by Call Number: JUV 616.81 BUTLERISBN: 9781591478065Publication Date: 2007-04-15
I'll Hold Your Hand So You Won't Fall by Call Number: JUV 616.833 ALIISBN: 1873413130Publication Date: 2010-01-01
Life with Cancer by Call Number: JUV 362.1969 WYSKOWSKISBN: 9781503825079Publication Date: 2018-08-01
My Book about Brains, Change and Dementia by Call Number: JUV 616.831 MOOREISBN: 9781785925115Publication Date: 2018-07-19
Sachiko Means Happiness by Call Number: JUV 616.831 SAKAIISBN: 0892390654Publication Date: 1990-10-01Although at first five-year-old Sachiko is upset when her grandmother no longer recognizes her, she grows to understand that they can still be happy together.
Remember Me?/Te acuerdas de Mí? by Call Number: JUV 616.831 GLASSISBN: 0972019251Publication Date: 2002-11-19
Understanding Cancer by Call Number: JUV 616.994 DUHIGISBN: 9781538338544Publication Date: 2018-07-15
What's Happening to Grandpa? by Call Number: JUV 616.83 SHRIVERISBN: 0316001015Publication Date: 2004-04-28
You Are the Best Medicine by Call Number: JUV 616.994 AIGNERCLISBN: 9780061956447Publication Date: 2010-09-07
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