🗨️ How to Talk to Kids & Teens about Cancer
📅 Monday, October 27, 2025
⏰ 5PM PT / 6PM MT / 7PM CT / 8PM ET
📍 Virtual — Join from anywhere!
Part 1 of our 3-part Parenting Series
Finding the right words to tell children about cancer can be incredibly hard — but honest, age-appropriate conversations can make a powerful difference.
Research shows that kids worry less and feel more secure when they’re told the truth about a parent or loved one’s diagnosis. In this informative session, you’ll learn how to approach these conversations with clarity, care, and confidence — whether you’re talking to toddlers, teens, or anyone in between.
This session is perfect for parents, caregivers, extended family, and any adult supporting kids through a loved one’s cancer diagnosis.
🧠 What We’ll Cover:
🧒 What kids understand about cancer at different developmental stages
📋 The 3 essential topics to address — no matter your child’s age
❓ Common questions and emotional responses (and how to navigate them)
📚 Tools like books, medical play, and resources to help children process the experience
👂 The power of listening and meeting kids where they are
About Our Speaker:
Carissa Hodgson, LCSW, OSW-C is the Director of Programs and Community Outreach at Bright Spot Network, where she supports parents with cancer who are raising young children. With over 17 years of clinical experience and personal insight shaped by her own family’s cancer journey, Carissa is a leading expert in helping families navigate cancer conversations with empathy and honesty. She’s also a lecturer at the UW–Madison School of Social Work and co-chair of the Association of Oncology Social Work’s Youth, Families, and Cancer Special Interest Group.
✅ How to Join
This call is open to all members of the AYA cancer community and their support systems. Register below to receive the Zoom link and join us virtually on October 27!