Children and teenagers can use the pages to name what has changed since becoming ill, whether the illness is new, getting worse, long term or still hard to understand. The activity book is written directly to young people and gives them permission to work at their own pace, skip sections, save answers, stop at any time, or complete parts with a parent, counsellor, healthcare professional or trusted adult.
The early activities help a child record basic details about themselves, their illness and the people who care for them. Creative prompts invite them to make a collage or picture book of people in their life, and to imagine their illness as a comic book character, giving kids and teens a less pressured way to express thoughts about medical treatment, symptoms, identity and coping.
The Making Sense of Changes pages focus on the practical and emotional impact of illness. Prompts ask about changes in the body, pain, discomfort, tiredness, movement, thinking, focus, talking, learning, moods, friendships and family relationships, with space for young people to write when changes started and what those changes feel like for them.
The contents page shows a wider structure for exploring body and mind, feelings, talking about illness, decision-making, common questions about having an illness, what happens when someone dies, community support and downloadable resources. It is likely to suit children and teenagers living with serious illness, chronic illness, progressive illness or life-limiting conditions, especially when adults are looking for a gentle printable workbook for home, hospital, hospice, counselling or paediatric healthcare conversations.
