Information about Concussion for Kids and Teens
Our brains help us do everything – walk, talk, think, breathe, eat, sleep, and lots more! Sometimes on TV or in cartoons people bang their heads and everybody laughs. But, hitting your head isn’t silly or funny. Your brain is in there! We need to take good care of our heads to protect our brains. One way to do this is to always buckle up in cars. You should also always wear a helmet when riding a bike, rollerblading, or doing anything else where you might fall and hit your head.
What is a Concussion?
A concussion is when you hit your head really hard and temporarily hurt your brain. Most of the time when we hit our heads we don’t get concussions. This is because the brain is protected by our hard skulls and floats in a special protective fluid. But, if you hit your head hard enough, you may feel dizzy, get sick to your stomach, be confused, or have trouble remembering what happened. This could mean you’ve had a concussion.
What Happens After a Concussion?
After a concussion, most kids feel different for a little while. If you’ve had a concussion, you might feel extra tired or a bit slowed down, or you might have headaches or feel dizzy. Remembering stuff and doing homework might also be a little harder. Feeling different like this can be scary. Don’t worry! Most kids feel normal again after a week or two.
What Should I Do if I Think I’ve Had a Concussion?
The most important thing to do is to talk with an adult about what happened and how you feel! Make sure you tell your parents, doctor, and teachers if you’ve hit your head and you’re feeling different than normal. They’ll help figure out if you’ve had a concussion and how to get better.
Here are Some Things YOU Can do After a Concussion:
- Be safe. Until you’re all back to normal, don’t do anything where you could hit your head again. Take it easy at recess. Take a break from doing things like riding your bike, skateboarding, and climbing trees. Your doctor will tell you when it’s safe to do these types of things again.
- Rest if you need to. Right after a concussion, you might need to rest and sleep more than usual. If you feel tired, it’s okay to rest or take a nap. But, don’t stay in bed all day! To get better, your brain will need exercise too. Brains get exercise in lots of ways like by going to school, reading, and doing puzzles.
- Tell an adult if your head hurts. If you get a headache, tell your parents or teacher. Try taking a break from what you were doing. If that doesn’t work, lying down with the lights off usually helps headaches go away. For some headaches, your parents or doctor might need to give you medicine.
- Take breaks if you have trouble paying attention. For a little while after a concussion, concentrating on homework might be hard. If so, do your homework a bit at a time. Work for a while, take a short break, and then work some more. Take short breaks if you feel yourself losing focus or getting “spacey.”
- If you can’t remember something, just ask again. Remembering things might be a little harder for a while too. Don’t feel bad if you don’t remember something. Just let your parents or teacher know you forgot. Writing things down or making lists can help if you have trouble remembering.
- Watch out for crankiness. Some kids feel a little cranky after a concussion. They get mad or upset over small things. If this happens to you, take a deep breath. Then, take a break from what you were doing. Going to a quiet place to relax should help too.
- Be patient. After a concussion, you might feel a bit strange for a while. Don’t worry! Be patient. Remember, your brain should get back to normal after it’s had a little time to heal.
What Should I do About School?
Most kids should stay home from school for a day or two after a concussion. The brain usually needs extra rest right after it’s been hurt. But, getting back to school is important too. School is exercise for the brain and should help you get better. Make sure your teachers know you had a concussion. Tell them if you need a break during the day to rest. If you get worried or stressed about school, talk with your teachers and parents so they can figure out how best to help.
When do I Get to Play Sports Again?
After a concussion, you’ll need to take a break from sports and gym class for a little while. Your brain needs time to completely heal without getting hurt again. Your doctor will decide when it’s safe for you to do these things. Most kids are allowed to play sports again a week or so after they’re feeling all better.
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