At this age, a child understands the difference between a simple illness like a cold and a more serious one like cancer.
What does the child understand?
- At this age, the child understands the difference between a simple illness like a cold and a more serious one like cancer.
- They might think that cancer is contagious.
- They may believe they did something wrong that caused them to get cancer.
Child’s behaviors and reactions:
- Acting younger, like having bedwetting episodes.
- Worrying about getting close to people.
- Asking about changes in their appearance.
- Feeling angry because of changes in their daily routine.
- Feeling scared about being away from their mom or dad.
- Feeling anxious, sad, and embarrassed about being sick.
- Hiding their feelings from parents and friends.
How to handle the situation?
At this age, children want to know what to expect regarding illness and treatment, so be ready to answer your child’s questions or look for answers together.
You can ask the doctor or nurses for answers.
Relationships are important at this age, so keep your child connected with family and friends as much as possible without compromising their immune system, and stay in touch through phone calls or social media like Facebook.