Cancer and Children: What Schools Can Do To Help

Each year, tens of thousands of children are diagnosed with cancer. One of the best psychological and emotional treatments is to allow the child (if physically capable) to continue to attend school. Allowing the child to be with his or her peers, to continue on with a daily routine and schedule, will often lead to positive psychological effects. To make this happen, the family, treatment facility and school need to “team” to come up with a practical plan. The team should include the child, the parent(s) or guardian(s) and cancer treatment facility staff. Many treatment facilities have family social workers, case managers, nurses, doctors and educational specialist that are capable of participating on this team. The child’s school counselor, school social worker and school nurse are capable of representing the school. It’s not necessary, in most cases, of getting everyone together in one room for a meeting, but important to have at least one representative from the treatment center, school and family communicating.

The following considerations need to be made while planning an appropriate school plan for a child who has been diagnosed with cancer:

1. Is the child capable of attending school for a full or partial school day?
2. Does the child have special transportation needs?
3. Does the child’s school schedule need to be changed or modified?
4. Does the hospital or treatment facility have specific diet recommendations for the child and school to follow?
5. What are the treatment facilities recommendations for the school nurse, school social worker or counselor?
6. Can the child still participate in extra-curricular activities that the school offers? These activities to discuss include sports, drama and school clubs.
7. Pressure and stress: The team needs to discuss the physical and emotional demands that the child may be facing. Stress “triggers” can change daily. The treatment plans that are flexible often have a better chance of succeeding.
8. If the child going through chemotherapy and losing hair, will the child be allowed to wear a hat in school? What other school rules need to be modified or changed to meet the child’s needs, or places the child in a rule exception situation?

Children who have cancer need everyone’s help and support. When treatment facilities, families and schools come together and “team” to support a child diagnosed with cancer, the child is given a better chance and options to reduce stress and succeed in feeling good about his or her day.

For counseling help for children with cancer, go to: Ask A Counselor

My Queue Link Directory

Organization: Get Yourself & Your Family Organized

It’s hard to teach your children about the importance of organization when you have a difficult time getting organized yourself. So, let’s start getting organized together. Yes, start a “Let’s Get Organized As a Family Plan.” Here’s how:

Sit down with your spouse, significant other and/or family members.
Discuss the topic of organization: What it is and why it is important?
Divide your organization plan into two parts:
Individual organization
Family organization

Write down the answers for the following questions:

What are your personal goals in life?
Where do you want to be five years from now?
What are your 1st, 2nd, 3rd (so on) priorities in your life?

Tips To Getting & Staying Organized

Make a “To Do List.” Make one for you and one for the family. Place your list in a private area where you can see it daily. Place “family list” in an open area for all to see.

1. Break down large or overwhelming tasks into smaller tasks.
2. Prioritize your projects or task.
3. Set deadlines! Set a date when you or your family wants to get the task done.
4. Do unpleasant tasks first.
5. Strive to keep up with paperwork. This involves doing homework on a regular basis for the kids and updating the checkbook for the parents.
6. Hire a professional organizer. Yes, this may be a great option!

My child has a problem focusing.  Total Focus Program

Children Online: Signs That Your Child Is Not Safe

Computers opens a whole new world of possibilities for children. As they begin to expanding their horizons on the computer, children are exposed to different cultures and ways of life. They can also be exposed to dangers as they hit the road exploring the information highway. There are individuals who attempt to sexually exploit children through the use of on-line services and the Internet. Some of these individuals gradually seduce their targets through the use of attention, affection, kindness, and even gifts.

These individuals are often willing to devote considerable amounts of time, money, and energy in this process. They listen to and empathize with the problems of children. These are aware of the latest music, hobbies, and interests of children. They gradually, over time, lower children's inhibitions by slowly introducing sexual context and content into their conversations.

Signs That Your Child Is Not Safe Online

• Your child spends large amounts of time on-line, especially at night.


• You find pornography on your child's computer.


• Your child receives phone calls from men you don't know.


• Your child turns the computer monitor off or quickly changes the screen when you enter the room.


• Your child becomes withdrawn.


• Your child is using an on-line account belonging to someone else.

What To Do If You Suspect Your Child Is Not Safe Online

• Consider talking openly with your child about your suspicions. Tell them about the dangers of computer-sex offenders.


• Review what is on your child's computer. If you don't know how, ask a friend, coworker, relative, or other knowledgeable person. Pornography or any kind of sexual communication can be a warning sign.


• Use the Caller ID service to determine who is calling your child. Most telephone companies that offer Caller ID also offer a service that allows you to block your number from appearing on someone else's Caller ID.


• Telephone companies also offer an additional service feature that rejects incoming calls that you block. This rejection feature prevents computer-sex offenders or anyone else from calling your home anonymously.


• Devices can be purchased that show telephone numbers that have been dialed from your home phone. Additionally, the last number called from your home phone can be retrieved provided that the telephone is equipped with a redial feature. You will also need a telephone pager to complete this retrieval. The last number called from that phone will then be displayed on the pager.Monitor your child's access to all types of live electronic communications (i.e., chat rooms, instant messages, Internet Relay Chat, etc.), and monitor your child's e-mail.


• Computer-sex offenders almost always meet potential victims via chat rooms. Be very cautious of allowing your child to enter a chat room.