by Trisha Havens

Created on: October 09, 2009   Last Updated: October 10, 2009

Addiction or rehab are big and confusing words for children. Sadness, anger, loneliness are not. Children understand feelings from the day they are born. If we are to explain that some one has to go some where to fix a problem, first we have to explain were the problem came from in the first place.This might not be exactly known, but we can break it down in simple terms to the child.

First ask the child how they feel about this person, this may be painful words to hear or they might surprise you. Children can see the person beyond the addiction where as the addicted person cannot. If he or she is feeling bad feelings toward that person even a close family member, mother, father, sis, etc. then say okay, well they are feeling bad feelings too that's why they are going to a place with people that can help them learn about those feelings.

Next, depending on the age of the child, give some insight what addiction is.I t is frighting for a child to see someone they know or love engage in strange or destructive behaviors. Tell them this person is feeling sick and they are going to a type of hospital. The most important thing to remember is never tell a child rehab is going to fix every thing. Drug addiction is a serious and complicated illness and a child should know that it might take a few "do overs".

Now if the person is doing well and after some time in rehabilitation, then take the child to see them, if allowed. Some people think children are frightened by things they see, I think there are more frightened by things they cannot see (monsters under the bed).

Seriously though the children who know and love an addicted person need understanding too, they deserve to be told the truth in a gentle way. You could say things like "mommy sleeps to much when she takes those drugs" or dad is angry a lot when he needs those drugs". Now the child can relate to these topics because they have witnessed them time and time again, and now we get to the part where the rehab fits into the whole picture. Children watch everything we do, they learn from us, they copy us. They must be told the truth in a way they can understand. They will benefit from it in the long run because they will gain something very valuable, trust.

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