I've been searching for a book to help my 7 year old son understand why I hurt and why he can't see it etc...I seem to be able to find any other topic than RA! If anyone knows of one I'd greatly appreciate it - my "foggy" brain can't think of how to explain it the right way and I've had it since I was pregnant with him - wow, guess my brain really has gone Thanks!
I also found that there is a lack of reading material for young children on this subject. I think i would get a big piece of paper and make it quite a fun activity with lots of cloured crayons. Draw pictures that he would understand of your body and get him to colour the bad areas in red and tell him that the pain is the red areas and its inside the skin so you cant see it but just feel it, draw silly things too so it doesnt feel like its something he has to feel bad about, This is how i showed my kids when they were little, and we drew pictures of them picking up their things and helping out around the house, we put the picture up and when i was feeling bad we would go to the picture and i could show them where i hurt and what chore i needed help with, they then got stars for helping but they never felt burdened as when i was feeling good we had treats according to how many stars they had gotton. It really did work with mine. We still laugh about the picures we drew and my kids are now 20, 17 and 14.Hi Gimpymama, i have just received a package from Arthritis Foundation, which includes an information booklet for kids, why don't you phone your AF in USA. Regards Janie
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