Tell Children As Soon As You Know
- Lynda Savage, M.S., LMFT, LPC
- Series: Dear Rosa
Experts emphasize that parents should tell their children about their serious illness as soon as possible. Since children are able to sense very small changes in the dynamics of the family, neglecting to tell them about the illness will only make it harder for everyone, especially for children who will sense a troubling secret.
Alketa Kumbaro, a Canadian child expert explains, “children will notice that things are different even if you do not tell them. They may say ‘mommy you don’t look like yourself’ or ‘mommy you’re hugging me too much/not enough.’ They might also start hearing things from friends or family members, so it is best to tell them yourself.”
