At this stage, kids are starting to be more independent. Some may still have a babysitter, or you may possibly need to find new sitters that can keep up with evolving sports and activities. Check out the Birth -8 babysitter section for more information on finding, screening, and preparing a babysitter, as well as tools for babysitters themselves.

In this age group, it might be less about your child being with a babysitter and more that your child wants to go to a friend’s house to hang out or even sleepover. This may raise questions and concerns when your child has a bleeding disorder.

Using the tools and resources below can help you, your child, and any other adult they are in the care of feel prepared, even if there is an emergency.

This section covers:

Partnering with Your Child When Sharing Information on Their Bleeding Disorder

Partnering with Your Child When Sharing Information on Their Bleeding Disorder

If your child was diagnosed at a young age, you may already be familiar with sharing information about their bleeding disorder with family, friends, babysitters, etc. Want more tips for those initial conversations? Click here.

What is new at this age and stage for your child is that they often want more say and control of what information about them is shared and how. Maybe they have shared about their bleeding disorder with some friends but not others, and maybe they feel sharing depends on the situation (going over to a friend’s house to play video games versus staying overnight for a sleepover). Maybe they want to share with their friend and friend’s parents or maybe they want you to do all the talking. Below are some helpful tips to keep in mind to partner with your child when telling others about their bleeding disorder.

Tips for Partnering with Your Child to Tell Others About Their Bleeding Disorder

  • Find a time to discuss with your child and make an overall plan for sharing that can be quickly checked in on before those last-minute playdates or hang out requests start coming in. This could be before the school year, or right as summer begins so you have set times to check in and see what the plan should be.
  • Consider what key pieces of information you always want you or your child to share regardless of the situation if they are in someone else’s care. Even if your child doesn’t want to go into a whole educational lesson on bleeding disorders with their friends, discuss what you think are the non-negotiables and ask your child what theirs are. It could be things such as sharing that your child has a medical condition and a medic alert bracelet, so if anything happens to your child they should call you immediately. Or it could be that once the bleeding disorder is discussed, you and your child prefer they not share this information with others unless talking to you first. This will vary from family to family, and child to child pending their bleeding disorder and your comfort levels, so find the right fit for you and consult with your HTC if you have questions.

If you want more information about the different bleeding disorders, please go to Basics of Bleeding Disorders.

  • If your child wants to talk directly with friends, babysitters or friends’ parents, make sure to have them practice the conversation with you first. Depending on the situation you could also be there the first time your child shares on their own, so you can help out or give feedback at a later time.
  • Discuss with your child that people may need time to absorb the information. Remind them why you are disclosing their condition: to keep them safe in someone else’s care; to make sure those caring for your child know what they can and cannot do; helping caregivers understand what to do in an emergency and the signs and symptoms that indicate something isn’t right.