Children and Illness

Children and Illness

9 min read

We're all aware that certain illnesses are more common in kids -- the common cold, chicken pox, croup. But the diseases themselves are not the only thing unique to children: The experience of being ill is also different for kids, and each age group has a different understanding of "being sick." As a parent, it helps to know what your child is thinking and feeling when he becomes ill so that you can help comfort your child and teach him or her about being sick... and, of course, about staying well.

Minor illnesses, such as colds and intestinal disturbances, are common, especially in the early years: According to the 1980 National Health Interview Survey, children from age 1 to 3 years experience six to nine illnesses per year. From age 4 to 10 years, children develop, on average, four to six illnesses per year. In addition, because illnesses typically spread to family members and friends, children may either experience being ill or observe the experience of others who are ill between 20 and 30 times a year, depending upon the age of the child and the size of the family. So from the get-go, children are familiar with the experience of being sick, but it helps them to hear from you that everyone experiences illness from time to time.

Illness is an emotionally charged experience for all of us. In addition to the general malaise we all feel, illness can bring pain, fear and anxiety, especially with a trip to the doctor's office. This is particularly true for young children. It's important for you to remain positive during your child's episodes with illness to help minimize the fear and anxiety.

A child's social world is turned upside down, too, when illness strikes. Eating and sleep habits are usually disrupted. Routine daily activities -- like going to a play group, school or football game -- are interrupted. Since kids thrive on routines, the change in normal, daily activities can be upsetting and disorienting. Reassure your child that once he or she is well, normal routines will return.

An additional lesson kids learn about being sick is that others step in to care for and comfort them. In this way, getting sick has a lot to do with learning about yourself and others. Kids not only benefit directly from the care and love you offer when they're sick, but they can learn from your example how to care for others, such as siblings or pets, in a similar, empathizing way.

Children's cognitive understanding of how illness occurs is a gradual process, which changes with the child's development. Typically, children ages 2 through 7 years think in ways that are magical and in terms of their own immediate experiences, and this is how they will think about illness, as well. For example, if a 3-year-old gets sick on a bright, sunny day, she may think the sun caused her to get sick. Children may also attribute their feeling sick to something more personal, like something they did that day that called for a reprimand, like hitting the dog. It's important for parents to recognize that children of this age may experience guilt and shame around an illness, and to let them know that getting sick is not their fault.

Children between the ages of 8 and 12 years can think more logically. Kids this age are able to understand that factors beyond themselves, namely germs, are responsible for many illnesses. Most older kids intuitively understand that taking your medicine and following the doctor's advice are important in recovering from an illness. However, they may have a limited understanding of the body's role in recovering from illness. After the age of 12, children can think in more sophisticated terms about a variety of causes of diseases and can attain a better understanding of how the body works in response to disease.

When explaining sickness and health to your kids, take care to use explanations that are simple, straightforward and appropriate to the child's age and developmental level. For example, don't explain in-depth to a pre-schooler why she caught the flu; instead, praise her for taking care of herself and resting quietly. An older child, on the other hand, will be able to understand more about why she is sick (but she'll still need your comfort and support in getting well).

Researchers have found that parents who use positive reinforcement and rewards for good behavior (instead of punishment for bad behavior); encourage independence in the child in taking care of himself; are warm and caring in their approach to the child; and who discipline using explanations are much more likely to have children with good preventive health habits. Never punish a child regarding health habits and never shame your child into maintaining good health behaviors. This will only diminish a child's confidence in her emerging ability to assume responsibility for her own health. Give your child opportunities to make healthy choices: Does your 5-year-old want a purple or green toothbrush? Would your 11-year-old prefer to take a shower or a bath? Does your pre-schooler want you to wipe her nose, or can she do it by herself? Finally, look for opportunities to praise your child for doing a good job in maintaining her health, like brushing her teeth well or covering her mouth when she coughs. Doing so will help your child feel good about the fact that she is taking care of her body and her health!

We're all aware that certain illnesses are more common in kids -- the common cold, chicken pox, croup. But the diseases themselves are not the only thing unique to children: The experience of being ill is also different for kids, and each age group has a different understanding of "being sick." As a parent, it helps to know what your child is thinking and feeling when he becomes ill so that you can help comfort your child and teach him or her about being sick... and, of course, about staying well.

Minor illnesses, such as colds and intestinal disturbances, are common, especially in the early years: According to the 1980 National Health Interview Survey, children from age 1 to 3 years experience six to nine illnesses per year. From age 4 to 10 years, children develop, on average, four to six illnesses per year. In addition, because illnesses typically spread to family members and friends, children may either experience being ill or observe the experience of others who are ill between 20 and 30 times a year, depending upon the age of the child and the size of the family. So from the get-go, children are familiar with the experience of being sick, but it helps them to hear from you that everyone experiences illness from time to time.

Illness is an emotionally charged experience for all of us. In addition to the general malaise we all feel, illness can bring pain, fear and anxiety, especially with a trip to the doctor's office. This is particularly true for young children. It's important for you to remain positive during your child's episodes with illness to help minimize the fear and anxiety.

A child's social world is turned upside down, too, when illness strikes. Eating and sleep habits are usually disrupted. Routine daily activities -- like going to a play group, school or football game -- are interrupted. Since kids thrive on routines, the change in normal, daily activities can be upsetting and disorienting. Reassure your child that once he or she is well, normal routines will return.

An additional lesson kids learn about being sick is that others step in to care for and comfort them. In this way, getting sick has a lot to do with learning about yourself and others. Kids not only benefit directly from the care and love you offer when they're sick, but they can learn from your example how to care for others, such as siblings or pets, in a similar, empathizing way.

Children's cognitive understanding of how illness occurs is a gradual process, which changes with the child's development. Typically, children ages 2 through 7 years think in ways that are magical and in terms of their own immediate experiences, and this is how they will think about illness, as well. For example, if a 3-year-old gets sick on a bright, sunny day, she may think the sun caused her to get sick. Children may also attribute their feeling sick to something more personal, like something they did that day that called for a reprimand, like hitting the dog. It's important for parents to recognize that children of this age may experience guilt and shame around an illness, and to let them know that getting sick is not their fault.

Children between the ages of 8 and 12 years can think more logically. Kids this age are able to understand that factors beyond themselves, namely germs, are responsible for many illnesses. Most older kids intuitively understand that taking your medicine and following the doctor's advice are important in recovering from an illness. However, they may have a limited understanding of the body's role in recovering from illness. After the age of 12, children can think in more sophisticated terms about a variety of causes of diseases and can attain a better understanding of how the body works in response to disease.

When explaining sickness and health to your kids, take care to use explanations that are simple, straightforward and appropriate to the child's age and developmental level. For example, don't explain in-depth to a pre-schooler why she caught the flu; instead, praise her for taking care of herself and resting quietly. An older child, on the other hand, will be able to understand more about why she is sick (but she'll still need your comfort and support in getting well).

Researchers have found that parents who use positive reinforcement and rewards for good behavior (instead of punishment for bad behavior); encourage independence in the child in taking care of himself; are warm and caring in their approach to the child; and who discipline using explanations are much more likely to have children with good preventive health habits. Never punish a child regarding health habits and never shame your child into maintaining good health behaviors. This will only diminish a child's confidence in her emerging ability to assume responsibility for her own health. Give your child opportunities to make healthy choices: Does your 5-year-old want a purple or green toothbrush? Would your 11-year-old prefer to take a shower or a bath? Does your pre-schooler want you to wipe her nose, or can she do it by herself? Finally, look for opportunities to praise your child for doing a good job in maintaining her health, like brushing her teeth well or covering her mouth when she coughs. Doing so will help your child feel good about the fact that she is taking care of her body and her health!