Supporting Kids with CF

Chances are, your child has a lot of things going on in their life. Many of them will be fun and exciting, but there are also many sources of anxiety for kids, including upsetting stories on the news, things other kids are doing, or tension at home. Having CF may create additional challenges for your child.

Talking to your child can help them cope with this stress. You can keep reading to get tips to keep life balanced. Whether you have young children, older children, tweens or teens, you can help them develop the skills they need to put anxiety aside and focus on the things that matter.

Talking to your child

As a parent, you can’t always protect your child from things that cause them stress. But you can help them develop healthy ways of dealing with their problems.

Here are a few tips for helping your child deal with stress:

• Be observant – If something seems to be bothering your child, let them know that you’ve noticed. They may need help expressing how they feel, and you might be able to help them. For example, if your child is resisting treatment, you might say, “It seems like you’re frustrated about having to come home early for your treatments.” This will let your child know you’re interested in how they feel.

• Listen to their concerns – Ask your child what’s bothering them and listen calmly to their answers. Resist any urge to lecture or blame your child, and focus on hearing what their concerns are. You may need to prompt your child with questions like “What happened next?” in order to get the whole story. Be patient and take your time.

• Support solutions – Rather than telling your child what to do, be a good listener and encourage them to think of their own solutions to a problem. If your child doesn’t want to do treatments after school because it interferes with playtime, encourage them to think of a better alternative, clear it with their doctor, and then stick to the plan. Allowing them to participate will build confidence.

• Listen and let it go – Fixating on a problem may make it seem more important than it is. Sometimes, just being heard will help a child feel better. After talking about their concerns, change the subject or do something relaxing.

• Remove stressors when possible – If you notice a particular problem that consistently causes stress, you may be able to change things. For example, if you notice your mornings have become too stressful to do treatments, you may be able to change the time your child does their prescribed treatment after you talk with the doctor.

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Tips to keep life balanced

Many kids have very full calendars. With sports, social time, school and CF treatments, keeping it all in balance can be hard. But remember that doing well at school or sticking to a prescribed CF treatment plan doesn’t mean you have to skip everything else. Here are some tips for fitting it all in:

• Get organized — There are many ways to keep track of commitments and plans. You can use an electronic device, your computer, or a simple wall calendar. Find what works for you and your child and be sure to keep it up-to-date.

• Plan each week — After you put all your planned activities in a single place, you’ll probably find gaps between activities, and longer stretches of free time. Use these gaps to complete small tasks — like laundry or part of a larger project — and you can get ahead.

• Make time for fun — Set aside at least one block of free time each week.

• Switch gears — Sometimes, switching from one activity to another can ne hard. If your child has difficulty doing their prescribed CF treatments after finishing their homework, think about a “ritual” that will help make it easier. For example, you and your child could take a walk around the block together to help make the transition between activities.

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Young children

Young children understand more than you may think. They can be frightened by events or conversations they overhear. They may also be unable to put their anxiety into words, so it’s important to look for signs that they are feeling anxious.

How you may be able to help

• Use play to allow your child to express their feelings

• Develop a routine, which can comfort children at this age. That mean if the morning is reserved for treatment, and bedtime is for stories, stick to it as much as possible

• Use puppets to help your child discuss CF

How your child may express stress

• Being extra clingy and needing more hugs and kisses than usual

• Exhibiting behaviors you thought they’d outgrown, such as bed-wetting or thumb-sucking

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Older children

Elementary school children may start feeling pressure to fit in. Making sure they have a safe place can help. When they have questions, give honest answers and a pick-me-up, like “I’m always here for you.”

When there is a new or different stress, kids may have a harder time with every day challenges. If they feel like something is going wrong, it might make it harder for them to cope with things that aren’t usually a problem. Be understanding and don’t dismiss their fears. Spending time talking to your child can help them deal with their problems or concerns.

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Tweens

Middle school can a rough time for many kids. There are more demands at school and changing social situations with peers. You can help your child cope by being empathetic. Reassure them that other kids at school are probably feeling the same way.

Talk to your child about difficult times you’ve had and how you felt about it. Be sure they understand that you will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.

Get your children to help with chores or encourage them to voice their own opinions. Make sure they know that their actions contribute to the entire family's well-being. Feeling like an important part of the family will increase confidence. Talk to your doctor for tips.

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Teens

It can be hard to remember that teens are just big kids. Emotions may be volatile during this time, and connecting can be hard. Many teens feel extreme highs and lows, and extra stress can make these shifts more extreme.

Keep talking with your teen and ask their opinion about situations. Make your home a safe place, and be understanding if they want to spend more time with friends. Teens may act like they aren’t scared of anything, but they still want to know that they’re going to be ok. Talking about your fears and expectations honestly can help your teen learn to talk about their own. If they have a hard time voicing their fears, encourage journaling or art help to express emotions.

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