Free PDF
How Do I Tell the Children?
Talking to children and young people about serious illness in the family.
For cancer, dementia, Parkinson's, MND, heart and lung disease, and any illness that changes family life. You do not need perfect words. This will be a series of conversations, not one you have to get right tonight. It is not medical, psychological or safeguarding advice, and it does not tell you what you must say. UK-focused.
What’s inside
- Where to start, tonight
- Before you talk
- Different ages, different conversations
- Difficult questions children may ask
- When the future is uncertain
- Explaining what they will see
- When the illness is very serious
- If the person dies: telling the children
- The days and months after
- What if I get upset?
- Keeping the conversation open
- Every family is different
- Teenagers and young adults
- When children worry about their own health, and looking after you
- School, nursery, college and other trusted adults
- Conversation planner
- What we've told each child, and when
- Where to get extra help
Print it or fill it in, whatever feels easiest today.
Every Keep It Together Care (KITC) free pack can be printed and completed by hand, or downloaded and typed into on a supported phone, tablet or computer.
If a preview won’t let you type, download the PDF and open it in a PDF app that supports forms, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader.