Parenting a child with a chronic illness can be challenging for the entire family. Anger, sadness, and dread, along with invasive medical procedures, pharmaceutical side effects, and disruptions to family routines, can make for a volatile mix at home. When you’re dealing with the stress and pressure of chronic sickness, it’s tempting to let unpleasant behavior and emotional outbursts slide. Children with chronic illnesses, like other children, benefit from having high behavioral expectations, consistent discipline, and clear boundaries. Keep the lines of communication open. Understanding your child’s illness will allow you to not only set reasonable expectations for him or her, but also to respond to any questions he or she may have in a language that they understand.
Maintain a regular schedule. Your child and family will operate better if their daily schedule is predictable and consistent. Ascertain that your youngster goes to bed, wakes up, and eats nutritious meals at regular intervals.
Set behavioral guidelines and expectations. Setting clear expectations (“You must tidy your room before playing outside”) and tight restrictions (“You may not go outside until you finish cleaning your room”) will help your child behave better. Allow your child to make decisions whenever possible, as this will help them gain independence and confidence. If you set clear expectations and tight limits, your child will grow up to be emotionally well adjusted and successful in managing their chronic disease.
Maintain a constant and adequate level of discipline. Discipline your child in a way that encourages him or her to act appropriately on a regular basis. Provide frequent praise and encouragement (“You did an amazing job remembering to take your medicine this morning!”) and praise (“You feel so much better throughout the day when you remember to take your medicine in the morning!”). Timeouts for younger children and the loss of privileges for older children can assist to reduce inappropriate behavior.
Patients should be encouraged to stick to their treatment regimen. If your child does not adhere to the treatment plan, his or her health will be jeopardized. You may help your child keep to the treatment plan by providing clear and simple explanations, praise and encouragement, appropriate limitations, and consistent consequences.
At all costs, power struggles should be avoided. Because he or she has a chronic ailment, your child may feel unable to control even the smallest of things. Your child may behave out in an inappropriate manner in an attempt to exert control over surroundings (throwing temper tantrums, refusing to take medication, staying out past curfew). You can give your child more power by giving him or her choices whenever possible.
Make sure you’re taking care of yourself. It is vital that you look after yourself so that you can properly care for your child. Maintain a healthy eating and sleeping schedule. Seek assistance from relatives and friends. Self-care can help you be a better parent by improving your mental and physical health and teaching your child how to ask for help when they need it.
