Young Children & Ministry Illnesses, Death and Dying Instructor: Jovonni T. Farrington

Pre-Reading Assignment Prior to this lesson you should have read chapter 5 in Tackling Tough Issues. Use highlighters, write notes in the margin and other study habits to help you understand, recall and learn this information. It is important for this course, but more than that it is important for the children’s lives you will impact.

Introduction  This area of ministry with children is very important.  Children do not typically understand all the issues that may exist in dealing with illnesses and death.  Children experience so many emotions, mostly associated with their parents emotions.  This chapter deals intimately with different areas of the body and possible illness that children may contract.  More importantly it deals with helping children understand the world that God has made, as it exists.  The more comfortable you are with sharing with children, the more open the will feel about expressing their feelings and asking questions.  This aims to give some basic information, not to be used as medical advice.

Integumentary System The integumentary system includes the skin, hair and nails.

Integumentary System Bacterial Infections 1.Strep Germs 2.Boils 3.Abscesses 4.Cellulitis 5.MRSA 6.Staph infections

Integumentary System Viral Infections 1.Cold sores 2.Fever blisters

Integumentary System Fungus Infections 1.Athlete’s Foot 2.Ringworm

Integumentary System Insect bites While mosquitoes, horse flies, chiggers, wasps, bees, spiders, and ticks are commonly thought of as insect bites or stings that children may get. However, in your local area there may be more. Contact your local poison control to find out what local insects are poisonous and commonly found in your area. Insect bites if a child has an allergy can be a matter of life or death.

Integumentary System Plant irritants Poison ivy, sumac and oak are very commonly found. Children who are playing outside may accidentally playing around these plants. Likewise, young children may eat plants that are outside. Children also have the tendency to place objects in their nose and ears. These irritants may cause additional issues. Contact your local poison control to find out what local plants are poisonous and are commonly found. Keeping the children informed of these things, may help them make better or more careful decisions.

Integumentary System Accidents and Injuries Among children the most common accidents are burns. The most common injuries are lacerations (cuts) and bruises. Burns should always be checked out by a medical professional. Information on burns and burn care can be found at your local hospital or burn unit. However, do not attempt to treat burns without the assistance of a medical professional. Burns can cause permanent damage if not treated immediately and properly.

Integumentary System Accidents and Injuries Lacerations are cuts or scrapes. On the skin this may be a simple as a scrape or as complex as a deep laceration where the bone is exposed. If you have any reservations as to the depth and seriousness of the laceration proceed to your call your pediatrician or proceed to the local emergency room, urgent care, or clinic. Derma-Bond and suturing are commonly used to treat lacerations. Also local anesthetics may be used to help minimize pain. Keeping the child calm and entertained is very important.

Musculoskeletal System The musculoskeletal system includes the bones, joints, tendons, and muscles.

Musculoskeletal System Bacterial Infections Infections of the bone

Musculoskeletal System Viral Infections Aching muscles and joints are common in adults. However, when children have pain in their joints, they do not always know the appropriate ways to express this information. If a child express continued symptoms over an extended period of time, do not hesitate to take them to their pediatrician. Inform the pediatrician of all the symptoms and complaints that the child is having.

Musculoskeletal System Injuries Bumps, sprains, strains and fractures are very common among young children. If a child falls, bumps or twists an area do not try to determine if it is broken. Instead if the child expresses pain, there is swelling present and/or any distortion take them to the pediatrician or the emergency room, urgent care or clinic. Fractures of the hands/feet of young children may be misleading and from the outside harder to determine. Taking a for an X-Ray to rule of the possibility of a fracture is very important. The important thing to remember with swelling associated with sprains, strains, bruises and fractures is ice and elevation.

Musculoskeletal System Tumors While these must be determined by a physician and X-Ray or CT Scan can confirm any suspicions. While tumors and cancer are a devastating diagnosis both prayer and proper medical treatment are important. Keeping the child calm and prayerful is important. Likewise, a parent and other adults around the child remaining calm is important. Helping the child understand and allowing the to help plan their treatment is also important.

Endocrine System The endocrine system includes the pituitary gland, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal glands, ovaries/testes, and pancreas.

Endocrine System Diabetes Diabetes in young children is becoming a more common illness and issue. If a child in your Sunday School, classroom, family and a child of your own has been diagnosed with diabetes there is a lot of information on ways that adults can help. Also helping the child understand that this is not a punishment from God. Instead help them understand their illness and ways to maintain their health.

Digestive System The digestive system includes the stomach, intestines, and digestive organs.

Digestive System Vomiting and Diarrhea Vomiting and diarrhea are very common issues in young children. While there are occasions when this may be so serious a child needs surgery typically vomiting and diarrhea are not deadly. However, persistent vomiting and diarrhea may lead to severe dehydration. Nevertheless, if a child has either symptom mildly for longer than one or two days, it may be appropriate to contact the pediatrician. If it is severe contact the pediatrician right away. If you suspect that a child has ingested a toxic substance contact poison control immediately.

Digestive System Eating Children that are eating more than expected or less than expected may be a sign of eating disorder or illness. Monitoring weight gain and loss in young children is very important to determine if there is a larger medical issue. Contact the pediatrician if the child’s eating habits are consistently an issue. If this is a child in your class or Sunday School, first speak to the parents to determine if the behavior is abnormal or typical of this child. Part of this is to verify that there is an issue both at home and school. Perhaps it is merely an issue of the child not desiring certain foods. It if critically important to be a team in this area rather than being suggestive of issues that child may have.

Circulatory System The circulatory system includes the heart and blood vessels.

Circulatory System There are issues that are common issues in children and issues that are less common. Some children are born with these circulatory system issues, others acquire them after birth. Contact the pediatrician if you suspect circulatory issues with young children.

Respiratory System The respiratory system includes nose, throat, lungs, and their branches.

Respiratory System Common issues with the respiratory system are croup, asthma, and upper respiratory infections. These can be treated quite simply under the care of a pediatrician or pulmanologist.

Respiratory System Accidents and Injuries Accidents and injuries among young children that affect the respiratory system include choking and swallowing foreign objects. The Samantha Foundation assists in helping parents, families, schools, teachers help prevent many of these issues and make the environment safer for children.

Nervous System The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord and nerves.

Nervous System Injuries of the nervous system could be very important and very dangerous. Any injury of the head, neck, or back should be considered serious and the parents and pediatrician should be contacted immediately. If the pediatrician is not available go immediately the emergency room. It is better to take precaution than to assume it is nothing and have serious, irreversible, permanent damage.

Death  Helping children understand death is very challenging.  There are many resources available to help children understand.  Children need to understand that death is a part of God’s plan.  They need to understand that when people leave this Earth they go to be home with the Lord.  Likewise when a pet dies children need to understand this is also a part of the circle of life. Just as we live we must also die. We love God and when we die we go home to live with Jesus.

Children Dying  When a child dies it is the most horrid feeling for the parents.  Siblings or other family members that are children may have a difficult time understanding or coping.  The parents reaction will definitely affect how the children react.  As much preparation beforehand will help the child express any fears, concerns and ask questions.  Listening to the child’s heart may help you understand what they genuinely need.  When a child is dying, a sibling is dying or a young family member is dying in a hospital you may want to seek a Child Life Specialist to help and provide resources.

Disabilities Children are born with some disabilities, others are acquired through accidents and injuries. There are different resources, support groups, parent support groups, and play groups for the children. Most of the resources for these children are free. Therapy is also available to these children through different organizations.

Disabilities Disabilities are often very for parents to deal with. There are a series of resources available to parents to help them discuss their emotions, disappointment, hurts, fears and genuine concerns. This is also a great opportunity to network and find other resources.

Assignment 1.Reread any sections in chapter 5 that were unclear. 2.Do application and reflection. 3.Review the difference between viral and bacterial meningitis. Review pp