By Katie Brenneman
As a parent or caregiver, you might feel it’s your duty to advocate for your children as much as possible, including when it comes to their health needs. While that’s true, and they’ll always need your support, it’s important to help them learn to advocate for themselves, too.
You might not always be in every situation to speak up for your child. Teaching them how to be their own advocate can make a big difference in social settings and even at the doctor’s office.
With that in mind, let’s cover a few tips that can help your children feel confident in advocating for themselves and their health needs.
Be a Positive Role Model
One of the best ways to boost your child’s confidence and teach them the importance of being a health advocate is to serve as a role model for those things. That includes taking care of your own health every day by:
- Exercising;
- Eating healthy foods;
- Getting enough sleep;
- Taking necessary medications;
- Making regular doctor’s appointments.
Your child is also watching how you handle their medical care, especially if they have a specific condition or disability. As a parent, it can be a little overwhelming at times to coordinate doctor visits if your child needs to go to more than one.
Staying on top of appointments, speaking up to medical professionals about concerns, and staying organized with things like medical records and basic information makes it easier. Your child will take note of that, and you could be teaching them the skills they need to stay on top of their health just by setting a good example. It’s also a good rule of thumb to educate other important people in your child’s life on how to coordinate those appointments, too, including grandparents or even their nanny, so they can ensure your child gets the care they need if you’re not around.
Provide Practical Examples
It’s never a bad idea to sit down and have a long talk with your children about advocating for their needs. But, they’re more likely to put your suggestions into practice if you give them specific examples and offer them frequently.
For instance, if your child has food allergies or other health limitations, including type 1 diabetes, it’s important that they can stand up for themselves in social settings.
Kids get invited to parties all the time. If your little one wants to go to a birthday party, talk to them before they go about how they can tell others what their dietary restrictions are or how their food might need to be prepared. Your child might even need to bring alternative foods to stay safe. For example, they might not be able to eat birthday cake, but sugar-free alternatives are available that they can bring with them to enjoy.
Promote Health Literacy
Children are like sponges. It’s never too early to teach them about the importance of their health and well-being, and what it really means. If your child has a disability or medical condition, don’t be afraid to talk to them about it and how it affects them. The more your child understands about the condition, the more comfortable they’ll be speaking up. You might be surprised to see them advocating for their health needs at an earlier age when they’re well-informed about what they’re going through.
Keep these ideas in mind as you teach your children to be advocates for their health needs. Starting early will help your children grow into confident adults who aren’t afraid to talk about their concerns and questions with medical professionals. They’ll be more likely to get the help they deserve and understand the value of their health.
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in lifestyle, mental health, education, and fitness-related content. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. To connect with Katie, you can follow her on Twitter.