Our Favorite Children’s Books to Explain Epilepsy to your Little One
If your child has epilepsy, or a family member or friend does, it’s likely that they’ve already started asking questions. It’s important to approach their curiosity with care. Complex medical terms and explanations will only confuse them. How do you explain epilepsy to a child in a way that is easy to understand and also supportive?
They’ll need an explanation that is reassuring, and that they are able to understand.
Explaining a complex and emotional topic to young children is an art form. To help you, we’ve selected 5 of our favorite children’s books that not only explain the condition in simple ways, but also offer encouragement to overcome any fears around epilepsy.
The Great Katie Kate Explains Epilepsy
Designed specifically to help young epilepsy patients understand their condition and overcome their fears.
When Jimmy is diagnosed with epilepsy, he starts to worry. What is happening to my body? Am I ok? Does this mean I’m different from other kids? Jimmy and the other young patients in the neurologist’s office get a visit from the Great Katie Kate, a spunky redheaded superhero who appears when kids get worried. Katie Kate takes the children on a medical adventure to learn about the various forms of epileptic seizures and treatments.
Sometimes I Get the Wiggles — Be an Epilepsy Seizure Hero!
Based on a true story, it’s about a young boy with epilepsy that teaches his classmates how to help during a seizure.
Kannon is a little boy with a form of epilepsy that sometimes gives him the wiggles, and when that happens, just like Jell-O, his whole body jiggles. Kannon would very much like to go to school with everyone else his age, but he worries his condition might scare the other children away. After much thought, he comes up with an idea to enlist and train all of his classmates as Seizure Heroes as a way of helping his teacher and his fellow students see him through each school day.
Taking Seizure Disorders to School: A Story About Epilepsy
Explains epilepsy in a simple way that allows children with the condition to feel accepted.
A story that dispels the myths and fears surrounding epilepsy in a positive, upbeat and entertaining style while explaining seizures in an understandable fashion.
Let’s Learn with Teddy about Epilepsy
Helps children and their families identify some of the symptoms of epilepsy and understand the doctor’s visit.
The book tells the story of a young boy first diagnosed with epilepsy, the doctor’s visit, the different tests and possible treatment and his relationship with his parents and friends.
Mommy, I Feel Funny! A Child’s Experience with Epilepsy
Shows children that epilepsy is just an obstacle and doesn’t have to hold them back.
Based on a true story, Mommy, I Feel Funny! introduces the reader to Nel, a little girl who is diagnosed with epilepsy. The story takes you through the days following Nels first seizure. Suddenly, Nel and her family are faced with thoughts, fears and emotions that come with the discovery, understanding and acceptance of epilepsy.
We hope you find these books useful in helping your child better understand epilepsy, face it with courage, and overcome their fears.
Embrace2 has just recently received FDA clearance for children 6 and up. This milestone marks a new chapter for us, which we hope will pave the way for expanding access to our sophisticated technology. We’re so proud to be at the forefront of offering advanced seizure monitoring solutions for families with epilepsy to help them live better, fuller lives.
Summaries provided by amazon.com.
A big hug,
The Empatica Team
