Talking to your child
It is important that you find out as much as you can about your child’s condition, so you will be able to answer any questions they may have. The whole situation can be confusing and worrying, as they now have to take medicine every day and may see their parents upset or worried, which in turn can make them anxious.
Giving them the details
It is important to explain to them as much as possible about their epilepsy. A full and factual explanation will hopefully help to ease their worries and fears.
Older children will need to know exactly what is happening and why, and should be given the chance to ask plenty of questions, particularly regarding tests and medication.
Remember to explain what is happening and why, and encourage them to ask questions. Reassure them there’s nothing for them to be frightened about and give the child time to take in all the information.
Below are some of the common questions your child may ask about their epilepsy:
- What caused the epilepsy?
- Did I do something wrong?
- Why does it happen?
- Will it go away?
- How long will I have to take the medicine?
- Can I still do things that my friends do?
Seizure diaries and magazines
We provide free resources including seizure diaries and magazines for children and young people which may help to explain more about epilepsy to your child.
Learn more about our seizure diaries
Further information
-
JMenuItem Object ( [id] => 249 [menutype] => mainmenu [title] => Talking to your child [alias] => talking-to-your-child [note] => [route] => 2014-06-05-13-30-30/epilepsy-and-your-child/talking-to-your-child [link] => index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106 [type] => component [level] => 3 [language] => * [browserNav] => 0 [access] => 1 [params:protected] => Joomla\Registry\Registry Object ( [data:protected] => stdClass Object ( [show_title] => [link_titles] => [show_intro] => [info_block_position] => [show_category] => [link_category] => [show_parent_category] => [link_parent_category] => [show_author] => [link_author] => [show_create_date] => [show_modify_date] => [show_publish_date] => [show_item_navigation] => [show_vote] => [show_tags] => [show_icons] => [show_print_icon] => [show_email_icon] => [show_hits] => [show_noauth] => [urls_position] => [menu-anchor_title] => [menu-anchor_css] => [menu_image] => [menu_text] => 1 [page_title] => [show_page_heading] => 0 [page_heading] => [pageclass_sfx] => [menu-meta_description] => [menu-meta_keywords] => [robots] => [secure] => 0 [dropdown_dropdown_width] => ) [initialized:protected] => 1 [separator] => . ) [home] => 0 [img] => [template_style_id] => 0 [component_id] => 22 [parent_id] => 238 [component] => com_content [tree] => Array ( [0] => 106 [1] => 238 [2] => 249 ) [query] => Array ( [option] => com_content [view] => article [id] => 106 ) [parent] => [deeper] => [shallower] => [level_diff] => 0 [active] => [flink] => /for-parents-and-carers/epilepsy-and-your-child/talking-to-your-child.html [anchor_css] => [anchor_title] => [anchor_rel] => [menu_image] => )Talking to your child
-
JMenuItem Object ( [id] => 250 [menutype] => mainmenu [title] => Talking to your child's school [alias] => talking-to-your-child-s-school [note] => [route] => 2014-06-05-13-30-30/epilepsy-and-your-child/talking-to-your-child-s-school [link] => index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=107 [type] => component [level] => 3 [language] => * [browserNav] => 0 [access] => 1 [params:protected] => Joomla\Registry\Registry Object ( [data:protected] => stdClass Object ( [show_title] => [link_titles] => [show_intro] => [info_block_position] => [show_category] => [link_category] => [show_parent_category] => [link_parent_category] => [show_author] => [link_author] => [show_create_date] => [show_modify_date] => [show_publish_date] => [show_item_navigation] => [show_vote] => [show_tags] => [show_icons] => [show_print_icon] => [show_email_icon] => [show_hits] => [show_noauth] => [urls_position] => [menu-anchor_title] => [menu-anchor_css] => [menu_image] => [menu_text] => 1 [page_title] => [show_page_heading] => 0 [page_heading] => [pageclass_sfx] => [menu-meta_description] => [menu-meta_keywords] => [robots] => [secure] => 0 [dropdown_dropdown_width] => ) [initialized:protected] => 1 [separator] => . ) [home] => 0 [img] => [template_style_id] => 0 [component_id] => 22 [parent_id] => 238 [component] => com_content [tree] => Array ( [0] => 106 [1] => 238 [2] => 250 ) [query] => Array ( [option] => com_content [view] => article [id] => 107 ) [parent] => [deeper] => [shallower] => [level_diff] => 0 [active] => [flink] => /for-parents-and-carers/epilepsy-and-your-child/talking-to-your-child-s-school.html [anchor_css] => [anchor_title] => [anchor_rel] => [menu_image] => )Talking to your child's school
-
JMenuItem Object ( [id] => 251 [menutype] => mainmenu [title] => Transition from child to adult health services [alias] => transition-from-child-to-adult-health-services [note] => [route] => 2014-06-05-13-30-30/epilepsy-and-your-child/transition-from-child-to-adult-health-services [link] => index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=108 [type] => component [level] => 3 [language] => * [browserNav] => 0 [access] => 1 [params:protected] => Joomla\Registry\Registry Object ( [data:protected] => stdClass Object ( [show_title] => [link_titles] => [show_intro] => [info_block_position] => [show_category] => [link_category] => [show_parent_category] => [link_parent_category] => [show_author] => [link_author] => [show_create_date] => [show_modify_date] => [show_publish_date] => [show_item_navigation] => [show_vote] => [show_tags] => [show_icons] => [show_print_icon] => [show_email_icon] => [show_hits] => [show_noauth] => [urls_position] => [menu-anchor_title] => [menu-anchor_css] => [menu_image] => [menu_text] => 1 [page_title] => [show_page_heading] => 0 [page_heading] => [pageclass_sfx] => [menu-meta_description] => [menu-meta_keywords] => [robots] => [secure] => 0 [dropdown_dropdown_width] => ) [initialized:protected] => 1 [separator] => . ) [home] => 0 [img] => [template_style_id] => 0 [component_id] => 22 [parent_id] => 238 [component] => com_content [tree] => Array ( [0] => 106 [1] => 238 [2] => 251 ) [query] => Array ( [option] => com_content [view] => article [id] => 108 ) [parent] => [deeper] => [shallower] => [level_diff] => 0 [active] => [flink] => /for-parents-and-carers/epilepsy-and-your-child/transition-from-child-to-adult-health-services.html [anchor_css] => [anchor_title] => [anchor_rel] => [menu_image] => )Transition from child to adult health services
-
JMenuItem Object ( [id] => 252 [menutype] => mainmenu [title] => Epilepsy and child safety [alias] => epilepsy-and-child-safety [note] => [route] => 2014-06-05-13-30-30/epilepsy-and-your-child/epilepsy-and-child-safety [link] => index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=109 [type] => component [level] => 3 [language] => * [browserNav] => 0 [access] => 1 [params:protected] => Joomla\Registry\Registry Object ( [data:protected] => stdClass Object ( [show_title] => [link_titles] => [show_intro] => [info_block_position] => [show_category] => [link_category] => [show_parent_category] => [link_parent_category] => [show_author] => [link_author] => [show_create_date] => [show_modify_date] => [show_publish_date] => [show_item_navigation] => [show_vote] => [show_tags] => [show_icons] => [show_print_icon] => [show_email_icon] => [show_hits] => [show_noauth] => [urls_position] => [menu-anchor_title] => [menu-anchor_css] => [menu_image] => [menu_text] => 1 [page_title] => [show_page_heading] => 0 [page_heading] => [pageclass_sfx] => [menu-meta_description] => [menu-meta_keywords] => [robots] => [secure] => 0 [dropdown_dropdown_width] => ) [initialized:protected] => 1 [separator] => . ) [home] => 0 [img] => [template_style_id] => 0 [component_id] => 22 [parent_id] => 238 [component] => com_content [tree] => Array ( [0] => 106 [1] => 238 [2] => 252 ) [query] => Array ( [option] => com_content [view] => article [id] => 109 ) [parent] => [deeper] => [shallower] => [level_diff] => 0 [active] => [flink] => /for-parents-and-carers/epilepsy-and-your-child/epilepsy-and-child-safety.html [anchor_css] => [anchor_title] => [anchor_rel] => [menu_image] => )Epilepsy and child safety
-
JMenuItem Object ( [id] => 253 [menutype] => mainmenu [title] => Night time safety equipment [alias] => night-time-safety-equipment [note] => [route] => 2014-06-05-13-30-30/epilepsy-and-your-child/night-time-safety-equipment [link] => index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=110 [type] => component [level] => 3 [language] => * [browserNav] => 0 [access] => 1 [params:protected] => Joomla\Registry\Registry Object ( [data:protected] => stdClass Object ( [show_title] => [link_titles] => [show_intro] => [info_block_position] => [show_category] => [link_category] => [show_parent_category] => [link_parent_category] => [show_author] => [link_author] => [show_create_date] => [show_modify_date] => [show_publish_date] => [show_item_navigation] => [show_vote] => [show_tags] => [show_icons] => [show_print_icon] => [show_email_icon] => [show_hits] => [show_noauth] => [urls_position] => [menu-anchor_title] => [menu-anchor_css] => [menu_image] => [menu_text] => 1 [page_title] => [show_page_heading] => 0 [page_heading] => [pageclass_sfx] => [menu-meta_description] => [menu-meta_keywords] => [robots] => [secure] => 0 [dropdown_dropdown_width] => ) [initialized:protected] => 1 [separator] => . ) [home] => 0 [img] => [template_style_id] => 0 [component_id] => 22 [parent_id] => 238 [component] => com_content [tree] => Array ( [0] => 106 [1] => 238 [2] => 253 ) [query] => Array ( [option] => com_content [view] => article [id] => 110 ) [parent] => [deeper] => [shallower] => [level_diff] => 0 [active] => [flink] => /for-parents-and-carers/epilepsy-and-your-child/night-time-safety-equipment.html [anchor_css] => [anchor_title] => [anchor_rel] => [menu_image] => )Night time safety equipment
-
JMenuItem Object ( [id] => 254 [menutype] => mainmenu [title] => Living with epilepsy [alias] => 2014-07-08-09-21-06 [note] => [route] => 2014-06-05-13-30-30/epilepsy-and-your-child/2014-07-08-09-21-06 [link] => index.php?Itemid= [type] => alias [level] => 3 [language] => * [browserNav] => 0 [access] => 1 [params:protected] => Joomla\Registry\Registry Object ( [data:protected] => stdClass Object ( [aliasoptions] => 170 [menu-anchor_title] => [menu-anchor_css] => [menu_image] => [menu_text] => 1 [dropdown_dropdown_width] => ) [initialized:protected] => 1 [separator] => . ) [home] => 0 [img] => [template_style_id] => 0 [component_id] => 22 [parent_id] => 238 [component] => com_content [tree] => Array ( [0] => 106 [1] => 238 [2] => 254 ) [query] => Array ( [Itemid] => ) [parent] => [deeper] => [shallower] => [level_diff] => 0 [active] => [flink] => /about-epilepsy/living-with-epilepsy/ [anchor_css] => [anchor_title] => [anchor_rel] => [menu_image] => )Living with epilepsy
Young Epilepsy is the operating name of The National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy (NCYPE).