Talking with children 3 to 5 years old

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HealthWiki > Epilepsy and Seizures > Chapter 8: Talking with children about epilepsy and seizures > Talking with children 3 to 5 years old

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In this chapter:

 

In this chapter:

• Chapter 8: Talking with children about epilepsy and seizures
• Communicating with babies (birth to 2 years)
• Talking with children 3 to 5 years old
• Talking with children 6 to 8 years old
• Talking with children 9 to 13 years old
• Talking with young people 14 to 18 years old
• Sex and relationships
• Talking with siblings about epilepsy
• For health workers

Children usually begin to notice and question things happening in their bodies after their third or fourth birthdays. They often know when they are sick and can understand explanations about what is happening and why. Listen closely to a child’s questions and respond simply and clearly. Although a child may not understand words like “epilepsy” and “seizures,” parents and caregivers can begin using these terms so they become familiar.

Why seizures happen. Explain to the child that seizures happen to many people because of different health problems, and sometimes nobody knows why they happen. Let them know seizures are not something to be afraid of and that having seizures does not have to stop them from doing what they love. Children with seizures can still do things they enjoy, like playing, drawing, and learning. Encourage the child to ask you any questions they may have or tell you if they are worried about something. Remind them that you love them and that their seizures are just one way they are special.

When your body moves suddenly all by itself, that is called a seizure. It happens when your brain gets mixed up for a moment. Then it ends.

Asking for help. By age 4, children can understand that they might get hurt if they have convulsions that make them fall. It is a good time to share simple information about seizure first aid. Explain basic ideas, like listening to their body for warning signs, and sitting down or telling someone if they feel they are about to have a seizure (see “How to talk about aura”). Be sure they understand that there is nothing shameful about having a seizure, and if they need any kind of help afterwards, they should ask an older child or adult.

What happens during their seizures. Drawings and pictures can get a child’s attention and help them understand the brain and seizures. Share a picture or make a drawing that gives an idea of what is happening in the child’s brain during a seizure.

This is a brain and these are the electrical signals happening all the time inside it.

Helping your child’s community understand seizures. Just as you teach your child about epilepsy and seizures, you can also talk with their siblings, cousins, and other playmates. Children understand at a young age that people’s bodies don’t all look or act the same way and differences do not stop them from playing together. With support from adults or older children, young children are good at learning how to care for each other. Introducing basic steps of seizure first aid can be both helpful and fun (see Chapter 2).

Families of a child’s friends and neighbors may not have experience with epilepsy and may have wrong or strange ideas about it. Help them learn the basics about epilepsy so they do not pass misinformation to others. All parents and caregivers can teach children to speak up and give correct information when they hear a person say something about epilepsy that is not true.

How to talk about aura

An aura is a sign or physical sensation that is considered the beginning of a seizure, but may be felt minutes before a seizure happens. A child who can feel, understand, and tell others about an aura can often avoid getting hurt during a seizure. Parents, teachers, caregivers, and community members can provide better support when a child recognizes an aura and speaks up. Not everyone who has seizures will feel an aura, but it is helpful if they do. People feel auras differently. One person may get a certain taste in their mouth, someone else may feel “butterflies” in their stomach, and another person may see unusual colors.

What do you notice right as your seizures start? Does your tummy ache? Or do you feel dizzy?

Sometimes I feel a little dizzy.

That could be a warning sign you are going to have a seizure. When that happens, stop what you are doing and find a safe place to sit. Tell the person with you, “I feel a seizure coming.”

Does it mean something is wrong?

No, the warning sign is like a friend helping you to stay safe because a seizure is happening.

Many children enjoy drawing. Invite a child to draw the unusual feelings their aura causes.

This page was updated:24 May 2026