Teaching Your Child about Asthma

Teaching your child about asthma is an important step in controlling the disease. As children become older they can take the lead in controlling their own asthma. Encourage your child to stay active. Studies have shown that being healthy and fit can reduce asthma attacks, even if exercise is an asthma trigger for your child.

Keep an asthma diary that describes everything about each asthma attack: when, where, what and why. Talk your child’s doctor about your results.

When- When did the attack happen? What time of day or night?
Where- Where was your child: at home, school, car, outside?
What- What was your child doing when the asthma attack started? Sometimes it can take hours for symptoms to start after contact to a trigger.
Why- Try to guess the reason for the asthma attack. Was your child sleeping or exercising? Had your child been around secondhand smoke?

Here are some suggestions to help your child understand and cope with their asthma.

Infant - 4 years old

Through these years, your child will need the most help. Keeping regular doctor check-ups are very important. Some common symptoms to look for are:

• Coughing
  
• Wheezing
  
• Shortness of breath or fast breathing
  
• Tightness of the skin in the chest area – the skin between your child’s ribs or around the collar bone is tight

If you are concerned your child might have asthma, talk to the doctor. Write down any symptoms and questions you may have. Take note of when, where, what, and why.

Young children 5-9 years old

At this age, children are becoming more aware about their surroundings and themselves. Teach your child about their asthma. There are children’s books and movies about asthma that can make good teaching aids. Talk to your child about his or her asthma triggers and how to avoid them. Use pictures and activity books to explain what happens to the lungs during an asthma attack.

• Teach your child about their medications (quick-relief and long-tern control), why they have to take the medicine and how it helps. Explain the need to take their medicine even when they feel fine.

• Show your child how to take medicines and use their peak flow meter and spacer.

• Explain your child’s Asthma Action Plan to them.

Children 10-14 years old

Children begin to experience new friendships and new activities in these years. Help to build self-esteem by encouraging your child to be actively involved with others and events. Explain that exercise may cause asthma to flare-up, but that it should not cause them to be inactive.

• Identify some famous sports and entertainment figures with asthma. Try:

  • Famous People with Asthma from the Asthma Initiative of Michigan
• Enroll your child in groups and activities that include other children with asthma. Try:

  • Camp Superkids! thru the American Lung Association of Indiana
• Use Internet games to help your child learn about asthma. Try:

  • Asthma Busters from the American Lung Association
  • Asthma Memory or Trivia Games from the Asthma Initiative of Michigan
• Talk with your child about the dangers of smoking and the effects of smoking on asthma.
  
• Explain the importance of taking their medication as prescribed, including long-term control medications even when they feel fine.
  
• Talk about your child’s asthma triggers and how to avoid them.
  
• Have your child take over responsibility of their asthma diary.

Teenagers

Talking with your teenager about their asthma is very important. Pressure to “fit in” can seem more important than worrying about asthma. Encourage them to take responsibility to control their asthma.

• Talk with your teenager about the dangers of smoking and the effects of smoking on asthma.
• Your teenager should tell their friends, teachers, and coaches that they have asthma and what to do in case they have an asthma attack.
• Talk with your teenager about how to keep track of the medication they carry, when to use the medication and when to get their next refills.
• Your teenager should know their asthma triggers and how to avoid them.
• Encourage your teenager to participate in physical activities. Help them identify their limits during physical activities and to not try to "tough it out" during an asthma attack.
• Your teenager should have their Asthma Action Plan and know how to read it.
• Talk to your teenager about the importance of keeping their asthma diary.
• Your teenager needs to be comfortable with getting help during an asthma attack.

• American Lung Association – Asthma and Children
• American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology – Just For Kids
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institutes of Health – Asthma & Physical Activity in the School
• National Jewish Medical and Research Center – The Asthma Wizard
• Indiana Chronic Disease Management - Member’s Page. Kid’s Activities