Cancer in the classroom 4: Establish open communication
This video explore explores how you can support sensitive and open communication about cancer with children and their families.
0:07
After you receive the news, you may want to talk to the family. It may be particularly useful to find out what information the child has and what level of detail has been given to the child. This will enable you to be consistent when talking to the child.
0:22
Some families might wish to keep the news from their children or delay telling them. An adult's natural instinct is often to protect children, especially when something sad, uncertain or unusual is happening.
0:36
However, excluding a child completely can make them feel left out or imagine that things are a lot worse than they really are. Children who are encouraged to talk about cancer in an open manner find they are better able to cope in general.
0:51
It may be useful to find out about the child’s support structure, who is communicating the facts and who is doing the caregiving.
1:00
An open discussion with the family about how the child has reacted so far can be helpful. Based on this, it may help you to identify what coping mechanisms are in place and what changes in behaviour, if any, have occurred.
1:14
It may be beneficial for the family to have a point of contact within your school so that they know who to contact as situations change or develop.
1:24
If conversations between you and the child happen in a public place, it may be useful to move to an area that allows for more privacy while adhering to your school's child safeguarding policy.
1:37
Listening is more important than talking. Listen to what the child has to say and let them know that you will listen to them whenever they need to talk.
1:48
When holding conversations with adults, again, plan for privacy. Timing is important too. Perhaps arrange the meeting outside of school hours so that the child is not aware of family members coming to or going from the school.
2:04
It's really important that we as teachers allow family members to talk openly and freely. If they become upset, we can assure them that this is completely understandable.
2:16
As adults, we cannot always fix everything, but we can listen and that can mean a lot.
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