Preschoolers, Families, and Serious Illness

Over half of adults in the US live with at least one chronic health condition. Given the prevalence of chronic and serious illness, it is likely you will have at least one preschooler in your class who is dealing with a seriously ill family member.

Given the care required for those who are ill, preschoolers may experience big changes such as moving, spending less time with parents as parents provide extra care, or having new people in their home — whether they are caregivers or extended family. Add to this the flood of emotions they may deal with (sadness, anger, fear, insecurity, confusion, and so on) and you have preschoolers who may need help to stay or get mentally healthy.

Here are some ways leaders can support preschoolers whose families are dealing with serious illness in their family.

• • Keep an open line of communication with the preschooler’s parents. Check in regularly to stay up-to-date on circumstances and how they are affecting the child. Ask about behaviors to watch for and how the parent is addressing them. Tell the parent of behaviors or conversations you experience with the preschooler so they are aware of what their child is currently struggling with. This caring approach ministers to both child and parent.
  • Choose your words carefully. Avoid using the word sick when talking about their loved one. Preschoolers get sick and may confuse what’s happening to their loved one with what is happening to them. This may increase their anxiety and contribute to the fear that they may experience what their loved one is experiencing. Talk with parents and see what words they are using to describe the situation to their preschoolers, words such as illness, disease, or condition. Remember that little ears hear everything, so be careful of your word choice even when not directly talking to the child.
  • Use this opportunity to teach all preschoolers to take all their concerns to God in prayer. God helps us cope and gives us strength for each day. Remind preschoolers that God hears our prayers and cares for us. Share “God hears me when I pray” (see Psalm 66:19) and “God cares for you” (see 1 Peter 5:7) with preschoolers. Lead preschoolers in prayer for the concerns they express.
  • Show grace and love to preschoolers and their families. This is your opportunity to model the biblical truths we teach in Mission Friends. Bible thoughts like “Be kind to each other” (see Eph. 4:32) and “God loves us” (see 1 John 4:10) help preschoolers begin to understand God’s love and caring. Model God’s love as you listen and speak to preschoolers. The child’s and the parents’ behavior may be unpredictable, but respond as Jesus did, with compassion and love (Matt. 14:14).

When we show our concern and are sensitive to stressful home situations, we can help preschoolers who are dealing with family members experiencing serious illness. We can share God’s love and compassion with the families in our care.