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Home > Your Child's Asthma > Your Child Depends On You
Your Child Depends On You
All children depend on their parents for their well-being. But children with asthma need extra care to stay healthy. While caring for a child with asthma can seem overwhelming at times, it's easier than you think.
Here are some practical tips that can help:
Educate yourself, your child, and your child's caregivers.
Nothing is more important than education. Teach your child as much about asthma as possible. Also, tell daycare providers, teachers, school nurses, babysitters, and coaches about your son's or daughter's condition, and about his or her Asthma Action Plan and Asthma Emergency Contact List.
Also, help your child understand the importance of his or her medications, and have your child use them as recommended by your child's healthcare professional. The more everyone involved with your child's well-being understands about asthma, the easier it will be to deal with it every day or in an emergency. Of course, you should always talk to your child's healthcare professional and NEVER be afraid to ask questions.
Help your child cope with others.
If your child has asthma, one issue he or she may face is the feeling among friends and schoolmates — whether real or imagined — that asthma makes him or her different. Remember the pressure you felt as a child or teenager to be like everyone else? It's the same for your child. Having asthma can make a child feel even more apart from the crowd.
Help your child to understand that asthma can be controlled. Work with your child so he or she doesn't downplay their asthma symptoms and avoid taking medication. There are support groups that can help your child cope with his or her asthma. Your child's healthcare professional, clinic, and many other organizations can provide information about these groups.
Some organizations also sponsor camps for children with asthma. Spending time with other children who have asthma can help young people build confidence, feel less different and make it easier for them to follow their healthcare professional's advice.
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