School, siblings, and home life
Keeping the rest of life recognisable — for the child in treatment and for the ones who are not.
School
School is usually possible and usually good for children — attendance depends on counts and phase, and your team will tell you when.
Ask for a hospital liaison or school nurse meeting. Practical asks: a seat away from the door in winter, permission to leave class without asking, a named adult who knows the infection plan, and being told when chickenpox or measles goes round.
Fatigue and concentration often lag behind physical recovery. Reduced hours beat all-or-nothing.
Siblings
Siblings usually know something is badly wrong before anyone tells them, and fill silence with worse guesses. Age-appropriate honesty lands better than protection.
Two things help most: a predictable routine and one adult who is reliably theirs — a grandparent, an aunt, a family friend with a standing slot.
Let them visit if they want to and it is safe. Being shown the ward is usually less frightening than imagining it.
For you
Accept specific help, not general offers. 'Thursday school pickup' is a thing people can actually do.
Most units have a psychologist, social worker, and welfare adviser. They are part of the treating team, not a last resort, and financial and travel support is often available and under-claimed.
Where this comes from
- Psychosocial standards of care in paediatric oncology. Sibling and school reintegration recommendations.
Next review due 2027-02-01.