Children can have a lot of questions and they may notice when things are a little different to the norm. Therefore, if your child is living with a bowel dysfunction, you may wish to address this and have a conversation with them at some point. You may want to know more about how to support them through this trying time and help them understand some of the things they can do so their bowel dysfunction does not get in the way of living their life to the fullest. Read on to learn how you could structure these conversations with your child.
Watch the video
Sometimes it is easier to engage your child with a visual aid. You can use the short video at the end of this article to spark a conversation with your child. It's about their bowels and bowel issues, the universal need to go to the bathroom and it can help you to explain what this means for them.
All people are different, and so are our bowels!
A good way to frame the topic of bowel dysfunction can be via analogy. Think about easy differences you can point out between yourself and your child. Perhaps you have different eye colours or are different heights. You can then use this awareness of differences as a starting point for helping your child to understand that their bowels may work differently to other people’s as well.
Give a simple explanation of the bowel
Providing a simple explanation of what the bowel is and how it works can help your child to grasp the problem at hand. That way it is not just an abstract concept, rather, they can get a full picture. You can talk about what happens after you have eaten a meal: your digestive system starts to break down food, absorb nutrients, and get rid of waste products.
You can explain that poo is the waste that remains after food has been digested and therefore needs to leave the body. It is formed and pushed through the large intestine, passing into the rectum where it is stored. You may want to talk about the intestines in terms of ‘pipes’ or ‘plumbing’. Different muscles (sphincters) in the rectum then relax at the right time to allow the person to poo and get rid of the waste products.
See our short animation of the digestive process to help get the right idea!
Focus on how they are not alone
Explaining how transanal irrigation can help
At the end of this article you can find another short video to watch together with your child, to start a conversation explaining how TAI can support them.
If you have any concerns about discussing TAI with your child or would otherwise like further support, reach out to us on (phone) (day, time) and your Care Advisor will be happy to assist you. Your healthcare professional may also be able to support you in this area.
