Overview
When a child has an illness, it affects the entire family. From upended daily routines to shifting family dynamics as caregivers' energies are focused on a child’s care, it can be difficult for all family members to cope with the changes. Siblings may feel a variety of emotions around the changes in family dynamics. Caregivers’ relationships with each other and their support systems often shift as well, while they prioritize the needs of a child receiving healthcare. Fortunately, there are lots of things families can do to keep connected.
Here are a few strategies that families can use to preserve and even strengthen the bonds between parents and children, parents and parents, and between siblings. For more tips customized for your family’s individual situation, talk with one of our certified child life specialists.
How to Help Bridge the Gap
When one child is in the hospital or is getting frequent medical care for a complex need, other family members may start to feel disconnected.
As a family, you can:
Take advantage of technology – There are a variety of technological solutions available, from video calls and photos to emails, text messages, and social media posts. Frequent updates and staying in touch help family members feel they’re still part of each other’s lives.
Use old-school mail or send items with caregivers – Family members at home can write notes or make small care packages to send to their sibling. Care packages might include photos of what the siblings are doing in their daily lives at home, favorite jokes, or a riddle/puzzle for the other sibling to solve.
Make a traveling scrapbook – The scrapbook travels between the hospital and home. Siblings and family members can place photos and share highlights of their day in the scrapbook when it’s their turn, then send it back to the hospitalized child to do the same.
Set a TV show date – Arrange for family members to watch the same TV show at the same time and talk on the phone or a device while they watch. This makes it feel like they are watching their favorite show together.
Sibling to Sibling:
Share a special item – Pick a special object that travels easily, such as a stuffed animal. Siblings can take photos of the special object at various places (the hospital cafeteria, library, and playroom, or the home bedroom, school, park, etc.) to share the object’s “adventures” with the other sibling.
Establish a quick check-in routine – Siblings can talk to each other over the phone or via video call at the same time every day. For example, they could do a quick call to say “good night” or “good morning.” This helps add a sense of routine to each child’s day in the midst of an unpredictable time in their lives.
Caregivers' connection to each other and their support systems:
Establish a quick check-in routine – Building in check-in times can be helpful for caregivers so that you have set aside intentional time to share updates. This time can be spent communicating necessary information about your child(ren) but should also include a conversation about each other’s wellbeing.
Take a break – Even better if it can be together. There are spaces available within the hospital for a quick break and staff and volunteers are excited about helping this become a reality.
Child and Family Life Services
The Child and Family Life Services team at M Health Fairview Pediatrics consists of healthcare professionals focused on the psychosocial needs of children, teens and their families. Understanding that families will enter and exit the healthcare system together, child life professionals aim to support family relationships and coping while they navigate healthcare experiences.