Parents
A child’s illness impacts the entire family. Beyond the parents, both the child with epilepsy and their siblings require information to help them adapt to the condition. Open and honest conversations about epilepsy, tailored to each child’s age and developmental stage, are crucial. This approach fosters an environment where the child and their siblings feel comfortable asking questions and discussing epilepsy in the future.
Young children often use play to process life events. Older children may find it easier to talk about their own or a sibling’s illness during a fun activity where you can gently ask for their thoughts. For example, you might say, ‘I notice this is on your mind. Shall we talk about it?’ Above all, children need a sense of security and attention—there’s no need for an in-depth conversation every time. Parents may not always have all the answers, but you can explore together and seek more information from the child’s doctor.