What do school-aged children need to learn?
During middle childhood, family is still important to the child, but it is also the beginning of independence.
During the school years, children become more aware of themselves and how others see them. This is the beginning of self-esteem.
School-age children spend a lot of time figuring out the world and events in their lives by playing games and talking about ideas.
How might illness affect our child's development?
Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) may lose some friends because the friendships are based on an activity that your child may not be able to do any longer.
Here are some ways in which illness may affect development:
Independence
Understanding - Children who are old enough to attend school can understand simple exlpanations of what is happening to their body.
Self-esteem - As children get older, they become more and more aware of what their body looks like and start to compare themselves to others. Children with a CHD become more aware of their physical differences and limitations. There is a peer pressure to look and be the same as everyone else. School-aged children, especially those who will be having surgery, will need a lot of support and understanding to help them cope with the changes in their body.
Informing others - It is important that the family not try to hide the child's heart problem so that the child can feel normal. Let the school know about exercise restrictions (if any) and signs that the child needs medical attention.
School work - Children who miss a lot of school may have trouble keeping up with their schoolwork. Most hospitals have a teacher available who can help the child keep up-to-date while in the hospital. Schools can arrange for schoolwork to be done at home if the child is too ill to attend school, or for extra work before surgery.
Older children - As children approach puberty, and move toward independence in their teen years, they are capable of learning more about their medical condition. They can also understand more about living with their condition, and how to track their symptoms and treatment.
