Date of Award
Fall 1986
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Nursing
Abstract
The purpose of this essay is to provide guidelines to assist parents in explaining their child's chronic illness to their other healthy children. Inadequate information about a sibling's illness can cause unnecessary upset in, the healthy child as they spin fantasies to fill the void of their understanding. Children need to be protected from the overwhelming fear of the unknown. Based on the lack of available resources enabling parents to give age-appropriate information about illness to their children, and on parental requests for such resources, a pamphlet was developed containing guidelines on age-appropriate communication with siblings of the sick child. The guidelines are based on a review of the literature in two areas : a ) family communication during chronic childhood illness, and b) the cognitive and psychosocial development of the child.
Recommended Citation
Friedhoff, Margaret Mary, "Guidelines for Parents to Use in Explaining Their Child's Chronic Illness to Their Healthy Children" (1986). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 3257.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/3257