1. Make Your Home a Chill Zone

In the first couple of days after a concussion, your child needs to take it easy. Make your home a chill zone – a low-key, calm environment can really help them to relax.

• Limit screen time: avoid TV, phones, and computers, and suggest quiet activities like reading, or listening to audiobooks or soft music.
• Keep things calm: Loud noises and bright lights aren’t a great idea. Create a soothing space for maximum relaxation.
• Balance rest and activity: While rest is important, your child doesn’t need to be in bed. Gentle everyday activities like walking around are fine to do.

 2. Cheer Them On

Your child might feel frustrated or anxious about gradually returning to school or missing out on training, especially as time goes by. Your job is to keep them positive and on track.

• Patience is a virtue: Remind them that recovery takes time, and rushing back too soon could set them back.
• Celebrate small wins: Call out improvements, no matter how small. This can help them feel good about their recovery.
• Help them pace themselves: As they start feeling better, guide them to gradually increase activities without overdoing it.

3. Communicate and Support

Stay on the ball with your comms – both at home and at school – to keep everyone in the loop.

• Chat to teachers: Work with the school to adjust your child's workload and schedule.
• Listen to your child: They might not always tell you if symptoms get worse. Set up a regular check-in for them to share how they're feeling.
• Reach out for help: Get in touch with your doctor if you have any worries about how your child’s going.

You and your child are probably keen to get back to it, but remember – every concussion is unique, and everyone recovers at their own pace. Follow the Graded Return to Play, stay patient and work at it. It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen.

It’s More Common Than You Think
It’s not surprising some kids feel scared when they find out they’ve got a concussion. But concussion’s common. More than a quarter of Australian children have had a knock, blow or injury to the head, with one in eight having a diagnosed concussion. These can happen in a variety of ways, including falls in the playground, falling off a bike and collisions from sport. With time, most people recover fully from concussions. You could think of it as like any other footy injury – a sprained ankle, a broken wrist: it needs care and time to heal, but it will get better.

Level Up or Down 
Depending on your child’s age, you can go into more – or less – detail about a concussion. For younger kids, it could be as simple as, ‘Your brain needs a rest to feel better.’ For teens, you can go into more detail about symptoms and the different stages of recovery.

Feelings Are Part of the Picture
After a concussion, kids might feel frustrated or left out if they can't do everything they normally do. Or on the flipside, they might feel really nervous about gradually getting back to usual activities. Whatever the feelings, acknowledge them and give your child some reassurance – it’s normal to have big feelings about concussion.

No matter how you do it, the goal is to inform, not alarm. By explaining concussion in a kid-friendly way, you're giving your child valuable knowledge to protect themselves and their mates. Keep the conversation positive, emphasise the body's ability to heal, and remind them that taking care of their brain is a super smart move!