Having a blood or bleeding disorder does not mean children have to miss out on being physically active. It just means you need to be careful about the types of activities they choose and use some precautions. This section of Steps for Living focuses on what parents and caregivers need to know about the benefits of physical activity for children with bleeding disorders, what are age-appropriate play activities, and how to be safe when physically active.

This section of Physical Health covers:

The Benefits of Physical Activity

Age-Appropriate Activities

Playing It Safe

The Benefits of Physical Activity

Physical activity and exercise are important for people with blood or bleeding disorders. They help develop strong muscles and bones. Strong muscles and bones can stabilize joints and prevent injuries and bleeds. Allowing your child to participate in age-appropriate play activities will help prepare them to join recreational and team sports as they get older. Your child can build self-esteem by developing the same skills as their friends and classmates.

Even though sports and games are an important part of childhood, you may feel concerned or anxious when thinking about your child participating in different sports and physical activities. It can be helpful to assess each activity for risk of bleeding. If risk of bleeding is low, it may be appropriate to let your child try the activity. It is helpful and important to bring your questions and concerns to your child’s Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) team or health care provider. Each child is unique and has a different health history, interests, and goals. Your health care provider can partner with you to make the best decisions for your child.

Age-Appropriate Activities

Below are some suggestions for physical activities based on your child’s age. Work with your HTC team or health care provider to find age-appropriate physical activities and sports that are fun and safe for your child.

Infants

  • Encourage your baby to move around, roll, crawl, and stand
  • Learning to stand and walk means many falls and for a child with a bleeding disorder you may see more bruises
    • Remember, minor bruises are common
    • Although you may feel anxious, bruises are usually not a concern unless they are painful and limit your child’s ability to move as this can be a sign of a serious joint or muscle bleed
    • If you want more information about types of bleeding, please go to Identifying Types of Bleeds

Balance your baby’s exploration with safety. Use infant-safe toys when appropriate to support movement and body awareness.

Toddlers

  • Encourage your toddler to be active
  • Use cushioned protective corners on tables
  • Consider placing gates at the top and bottom of staircases and carpeting on floors
  • Supervise play time
  • Have your child wear proper safety equipment (for example helmets, elbow pads, and knee pads)

Help your child learn to play safely and well with others through physical activities or simple games that increase body and spatial awareness, like Pass the Potato.

Preschoolers

  • Teach preschoolers to safely develop new motor skills (like catching, throwing, skipping, or hopping)
    • Remember, they will likely experience falls, bumps, and bruises
  • Supervise playtime to prevent serious injury
  • Make sure your child uses safety equipment

Preschoolers are developing the skills to tell you when they are having a bleed. Develop questions that encourage your child to communicate how their bodies are feeling.

School-Aged Children

School physical education programs offer the best opportunity to provide physical activity to all children. These programs teach the skills and knowledge needed to support being physically active.

  • Have your child participate in physical education classes at school, even if some limitations or adjustments are needed
    • Federal law states all children in public schools must have the opportunity to participate in physical education. Most schools will accept a letter from a Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) stating that the child can participate in activities
  • Evaluate the bleeding risk for any activity
    • Talk with the HTC team before starting any new physical activity, sport, or exercise
    • Rethink participation in any activity that causes repeated bleeds

Health care providers report fewer bleeding episodes among children who are regularly active than among children who are not active.

Playing It Safe

To stay safe when your child is physically active, make an activity plan with your HTC team or health care provider before the activity, especially a new activity. You can time your treatment to happen before participation in physical activity, so that your factor level is higher. It is important to report any injury to your HTC team or health care provider.

When reviewing activities for your child, the Playing It Safe activity ratings can be a helpful tool. The ratings are not recommendations and are based on statistics from the general population. Ratings are given for many different types of activities, ranging from low risk to high-risk activities. Choices that are rated 1-2 indicate that the benefits of the activity MAY outweigh the risks.

For more information about activity ratings please go to Table of Activity Ratings.