Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Tips
Read these 20 Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Arthritis tips and hundreds of other topics.
Typing Homework
If the child has arthritis in the hands, writing might be difficult. Instead of writing, try letting them type. If this is easier for them, you can go and talk to the child's teacher and maybe they can let the child do their school work on the computer.
Environment
A supportive environment in very important for a child or teen with arthritis. It will help them feel like they are not alone and it will also help the stress.
Cooking
Try letting your child or teenager help you cook. Teenagers might find out that they really like cooking. Cooking can be a real good hobby for teenagers and it can help get their minds off other things. Never let young children cook by themselves though, but that does not mean they could not help you. Cooking might make children with arthritis feel like they are useful.
How To Treat Your Child
Treat the child with arthritis, as much as possible, like the other children in the family.
Puzzles
If you have a child or teen with arthritis, it can be hard to find activities for them to do. Putting together puzzles is a great hobby for children or teens. It will keep them seated and can keep them busy for hours. There are all different kinds of puzzles and you can find different levels to match the age of your child.
Assignments
Make arrangements with the child or teen's teacher so assignments can be sent home when the child has to miss school with their arthritis.
Poetry/Story Writing
Most children have very creative minds. Try encouraging writing. It will be very helpful when they get into high school. Who knows? They might write a poem or story that will be published.
Being Different
One of the hardest things for a child with arthritis to accept, is that they are different. Children and young teens want to fit in and they hate anything that makes them different. My advice is to try to explain to them that everyone is different. Also tell them that what makes them different is what makes them special.
Between Classes
Talk to the child's or teen's teacher about allowing them extra time between classes, to prevent them from having to rush and so they are not late.
Heavy Books
If your child or teen that has arthritis has problems caring heavy books back and forth from school, you may want to go and talk to their teacher and ask about keeping a set of books at home and another at school. This will keep the child from having to carry them back and forth.
Family Game Night
It is very important that you do things together as a family. Sometimes, it can be hard to find things the whole family can do together when there is a child with disabilties. Try to spend one night, at least every other week, playing board games or cards.
Models
Car models are great hobbies for teens and children 10 and older. Boys are mainly the ones who are most interested in putting car models together, but who knows your daughter might too. There are different levels of car models. Level one is usually the ones where you just snap the parts together, but as the child or teen gets older they might enjoy moving to a higher level where they will paint and glue.
Physical Activities
Encourage your child to participate in physical activities, if the doctor/therapist approves.
Being Different
One of the hardest things for a child with arthritis to accept, is that they are different. Children and young teens want to fit in and they hate anything that makes them different. My advice is to try to explain to them that everyone is different. Also tell them that what makes them different is what makes them special.
| Guru Spotlight |
| Jolyn Wells-Moran |
