Support Services
Supportive Oncology and Survivorship
Parenting Through Cancer
When a parent has an illness, it impacts the entire family, particularly children. Talk to them openly about your illness in a way they can understand. Maintaining routines provides stability for them. Encourage them to express their feelings through talking, art, or play.
Prioritize quality time together as a family. Your ongoing support and communication will help your children develop resilience during this challenging time.
What Is a Child Life Specialist?
If you are undergoing cancer treatment, a child life specialist can provide essential support for your children and family. They are experts in helping families cope with the stress and challenges that illness can create.
How Can a Child Life Specialist Help My Family?
A child life specialist can help your family when a parent has an illness. They'll help you understand your child's perspective on the situation and provide guidance on how to talk to them about it.
They'll offer tools for healthy emotional expression and suggest activities to help your child cope. Additionally, they can help you create meaningful family time and connect with helpful resources like books, activities, and websites.
Want to Learn More?
Visit the UC Davis Child Life Services webpage "Parenting with Illness" for strategies and ideas to support your family.
Resources to Help You and Your Family Cope
For parents:
- How to Help Children Through a Parent’s Serious Illness (by Kathleen McCue | General)
- Raising an Emotionally Healthy Child When a Parent is Sick (by McGraw Hill Professional | General)
- Parenting Through Illness | Spanish (by UC Davis | General)
To read with your children:
- What is Cancer? | Spanish (by UC Davis | Oncology)
- What Happens When Someone I Love Has Cancer | Spanish (by Sara Olsher | Oncology)
- When Someone You Know Has Cancer | Spanish (by LIVESTRONG Foundation | Oncology)
- Talking with My Treehouse Friends About Cancer (by Peter R. Van Dernoot | Oncology)
- Breathing Makes it Better (by Christopher Willard | Coping)
- The Way I Feel (by Janan Cain | Feelings)
- Franklin Goes to the Hospital (by Paulette Bourgeois | Surgery)
- The Kissing Hand | Spanish (by Audrey Penn | Ongoing Connection)
For teens:
- When Your Parent Has Cancer: A guide for teens (PDF) | Spanish (by National Cancer Institute | Oncology)|
- My Parent has Cancer and it Really Sucks (by Marc Silver | Oncology)
Additional Support:
For further guidance and resources, please contact Child Life Specialist Emily McDaniel, M.A., CCLS, at ejmcdaniel@health.ucdavis.edu or 916-734-4034.
