Tips for discussing your heart condition with your child

It can be difficult to talk to a child about a heart event or diagnosis, treatments, the prognosis, and the possible changes that may occur in your family as a result.

Parents have said that they sometimes avoid these conversations because they are feeling unsure of what to say, they are not feeling emotionally ready, or they believe their child is too young to understand.

Although these reasons are understandable, it is recommended children be informed about a parent or a guardian’s heart condition and be offered the opportunity to be involved in the recovery process, in an age-appropriate way.

To support parents in these conversations, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute has published a guide on ‘how to talk to children and youth about heart disease’ and created a list of top 10 tips.

“Remember: Communicating with your child about your condition will likely help you feel better, too.”