Play and practice

Kids learn through play. Playtime and casual time together can be an opportunity to share medical information with children. Play is familiar and fun for children, allowing them to feel relaxed as they process shared information and experience it through play. How the information is shared depends, in part, on your child's age:

• Age 2 years to 7 years old. You can practice playing "doctor" with dolls or other figures. You can model what will be expected of them and then allow your child to try to be the one in charge.
• Age 8 years and up. You can play a board game with your older child or ride bikes together and talk about medical experiences. This allows your child to move in and out of difficult parts of the conversation, while having an easy outlet for processing.