Hemophilia: Having Fun while Staying Safe

Posted by Cassie, Thursday, March 06, 2008 at 10:00 AM by Cassie

It can be difficult for a child living with hemophilia to feel like a "regular" kid. Often, children who have hemophilia cannot participate in the same activities as their peers, for fear of sustaining a bruise, cut or internal injury.

As a parent, it can be hard to see your child stand on the side as other children play, however, there are some steps you can take to ensure that your child has fun while staying safe. Here are a few tips:

If your child doesn't have severe hemophilia, he can likely participate in light play, as long as he avoids contact sports.
Your child can likely ride a bike or tricycle as long as he wears a protective helmet.
Promote your child to swim. Swimming is a relatively safe physical activity. As a plus, swimming allows your child to interact with other children, especially if he joins a swim team.

Another tips is to set up a safe play area in your home. Pick a carpeted room and fill it with fun and entertaining toys. This will be a great spot for your child to play with others.