HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN CANCER TO CHILDREN?
No child should ever have to deal with something as complex and frightening as cancer, but the reality is that they do. My three daughters were all under the age of seven when we were impacted by cancer. As a mother, my goal was to protect them and refrain from crying or talking about it in front of them. Even if I had wanted to have a conversation with them about it, I would have had no idea what to say or how to say it. What I realized later on was that not explaining it to them made them more fearful.
The three children’s books that I wrote were inspired by the experience with my own children. I struggled in my attempt to protect them and alleviate their fear. These books are designed to help others succeed in talking and explaining cancer to a child in a way that they will understand without frightening them. They are tools that can be utilized not only to begin the conversation, but to help encourage sharing between the child and the adult. Studies show that children are much more resilient if they better understand a situation and are able to seek support from family and friends. The books encompass three different reading levels: Beginning Reader, Young Reader, and Young Adult Reader.
I am extremely honored to have recently been awarded the Purple Dragonfly Award for each of my books. The Purple Dragonfly Book Awards is a worldwide book competition to celebrate the best in children’s books. The intent of the award is to honor and recognize authors of children’s literature. “Judged by industry experts with significant knowledge over the cat egories they preside, being honored with a Purple Dragonfly Book Award gives authors the recognition they deserve and provides a boost to further their writing careers.”
The books are available on Amazon and are being sold internationally. If you would like to purchase them directly, feel free to reach out to me via email, on Facebook, or by calling 419-725-1100. If you would like to host a presentation and/or a book signing, please let me know.
Jean Schoen is the founder and president of Cancer Connection of Northwest Ohio, Inc. (419-725-1100).
