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How to talk to/inform young children about brain injuries

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CDC developed a mobile game app, called “HEADS UP Rocket Blades,” to help teach concussion safety in a kid-friendly way to children ages 6 to 8. This innovative app can help you start a conversation with your child about concussion safety. Through a futuristic world of galactic racing adventures, children can learn the benefits of playing it safe and smart!

The app can help you teach children:

  • Hitting your head can cause a brain injury called a concussion,

  • To tell a coach, parent, or another adult if they hit their head,

  • The importance of seeing a doctor if your brain is hurt, and resting before returning to play, and that

  • Helmets alone cannot prevent concussions.

How to support your child when they have a concussion

How they might feel:

angry

alone

nervous

confused

scared

tired

depressed

anxious

sad

overwhelmed

out of it

traumatized

Be as supportive and understanding as you can, reminding them that their injury is temporary and how important it is to give their brain extra time to heal. Ask them if they want to just rant or if they want you to get involved and offer your advice. Sometimes they may just want to state how they feel and get it off their chest, other times they may want someone to tell them that things are going to be okay and that you're going to try to find them help for when they feel how they are feeling. Try to find a neurologist for them and ask the neurologist if they work with a psychologist that has helped their brain injury patients. Call around at community centers, hospitals, youth centers, etc, to see if they hold group therapy sessions for brain trauma patients. These group sessions would really help your child to understand that there's at least one person out there that is fighting the same battles that they are. If you cant find any group sessions try to talk to your neurologist about starting one. Ask if they would talk to other patients about how they'd feel about joining in. Most likely the patients would love to hear that something like that is available to them.

How to help:

"Parents often say that they have trouble explaining injuries to their children. Here are some ideas of ways you can explain brain injury to your child after one of their family members or friends or themselves are injured..."

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