How to explain IBD to a child

[AlexIta]

Recently we discovered that my son has IBD, we have been to the Royal Free hospital and they were explaining to him what IBD is about, but he is only 6 and I think he didn`t understand (plus he was scared).

Do you have any idea how we could explain to him what IBD is? maybe using comics or booklet for kids?

Thanks

 

[Maya142]

I'll tag my little penguin since she had a son who was diagnosed around your son's age.

I believe CCFA has some resources - there's a book called "Toilet Paper Flowers" and a comic too. Someone who knows more will chime in soon hopefully (my daughter was diagnosed at 16, so we didn't have this problem!).

Really sorry to hear about your son's diagnosis but glad you have some answers :ghug:.

 

[my little penguin]

Hugs
This is how we explained it to Ds
He is 12 now and was 7 at dx.
We only told him what he needed to know and when he had more questions

We explained that Ibd is like a pretend scrape on his skin
Only in his tummy.
His body is trying to fix the scrape ( even though it's not there )
The medicine convinces his body that there isn't any scrapes to fix.

That sometimes he will feel tired since his body still is fighting the urge to fix .
Sometimes food may make his tummy sick
But the medicine will help.

Comic Pete has crohns for older kids
Ds at 12 just started to get it more and re read it
http://www.ccfa.org/assets/pdfs/ccfa-online-comicbook.pdf

This one is for littler kids
Ibd and me

http://www.ccfa.org/assets/pdfs/activitybookweb.pdf

Jeff has crohns is also a coloring book for little kids
http://www.child.ca/news/book-launch/

They will mail it to you ( not sure on uk )

If he gets an ostomy there are ostomy dolls they will mail you

 

[Pilgrim]

If you look up "Medikids" they have an IBD superhero book for kids. My daughter was diagnosed at 3 and it didn't do much for her then but her now 7 year old brother loves it and reads it all the time. The kids all ended up with a good understanding from that book. It helped me too.

 

[Jenn]

This one might help:
http://www.ccfa.org/assets/pdfs/ccfa-online-comicbook.pdf