How to Explain Asthma to Kids
Asthma strikes more children in the United States than any other chronic illness. Asthma can be frightening and confusing for children, so it is important to make sure they understand the disease and learn to control it in the event of an emergency. Explaining asthma is a matter of getting good medical information, using the right words and visual aids, and setting a tone that empowers the child to deal with the illness.
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Instructions
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Inflate the balloon. Tell the child to imagine the balloon is a lung, and the person has just breathed in.
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Deflate the balloon. Tell the child to imagine the person has breathed out.
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Re-inflate the balloon, and explain that you are about to show how asthma works.
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Insert the straw into the balloon and hold the valve shut.
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Explain to the child that the straw represents the bronchi, the part of the lungs where asthma begins.
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Let the air out slowly. While you're doing this, explain that the bronchi are swollen, and that it is harder for the balloon (lung) to breathe out, and that it makes more noise.
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Explain the medications that the doctor has prescribed. These may include short-acting or emergency relief, or longer-term preventive medicine.
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Tips & Warnings
See a lung or allergy specialist to learn what is triggering your child's asthma. Telling your child what to avoid can help the child prevent attacks and feel more empowered over the illness. If the visual demonstration doesn't work or is not age-appropriate, ask your doctor for brochures or other materials to help explain how asthma works and how to control it.
