When a parent or caregiver is diagnosed with mate pukupuku (cancer) or another serious illness, it can turn a child’s world upside down. Created especially for tamariki (children) ages 5–12, the Kenzie’s Gift Support Kit for Children with Parents Facing Cancer helps young minds navigate fear, confusion, and big emotions in a gentle, engaging way. This diary-style resource is packed with interactive pages, creative prompts, and simple explanations that help demystify illness, so children feel safer, more informed, and less alone.

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Why This Support Kit Matters

A Child-Friendly Window Into Serious Illness

‍Talking about cancer (or other serious conditions) can feel overwhelming for kids—and for adults, too. The kit uses clear, age-appropriate language, showing children what cells are, how tumors form, and what different treatments look like. This helps them feel less afraid of the unknown and more open to sharing concerns.

Empowers Kids to Express Emotions

‍Children often struggle to explain how they feel when a loved one is sick. Through fun activities—like drawing, sticking photos, or writing in “free space” sections—the diary offers a pressure-free outlet for kids to show sadness, anger, confusion, or hope in ways that make sense to them.

Enhances Communication & Understanding

‍Because the kit includes prompts for questions and discussions, it encourages children to ask parents, nurses, or doctors about what’s happening. By prompting them to record new words or procedures, it fosters ongoing dialogue and reassures them it’s okay to keep asking questions—even the same ones multiple times.

Promotes Positive Coping Strategies

‍From gentle breathing exercises to “popping” imaginary cancer cells as soap bubbles, the kit introduces concrete coping tools. Kids learn healthier ways to handle overwhelming emotions, like “turtle technique” for anger or using playful memory boxes to preserve positive moments.

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What’s Inside the Support Kit

All About Me

‍This section reaffirms each child’s unique identity, focusing on what they enjoy, who’s in their whānau, and what everyday life looks like. These pages remind them they’re still themselves—even with big changes happening at home.

Understanding Cancer & Serious Illness\

‍Through friendly illustrations and simple text, kids discover how cells and tumors work, what common tests or treatments might involve, and how hospitals and clinics help. They can record or draw questions, so they always know what they want to ask healthcare providers.

Emotional Check-Ins

‍Activities like “draw your feelings face” or “write out your worries” transform abstract emotions into something more manageable. Kids learn that it’s normal to feel many things at once, from guilt or anger to hope and relief. These pages highlight that there are no “bad” feelings—just ways to express them safely.

Support & Fun Stuff

‍Because no journey should be all medical jargon and big words, the kit sprinkles in imaginative play ideas (like cooking or planting something special) and includes plenty of blank “free space” pages for doodling, cutting out shapes, or storing small mementos from home or hospital visits.

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Download or Order the Kenzie’s Gift Support Kit

If you’re looking for a friendly, hands-on way to reassure and guide a child whose parent or caregiver faces a serious illness, download or order the “Kenzie’s Gift Support Kit for Children (Ages 5–12) with Parents Facing Cancer.”Bring clarity, support, and child-centered understanding into a time that can otherwise feel scary and uncertain.

How to Obtain Your Copy

1. Choose: A digital version for immediate access or a physical kit if you prefer a tangible workbook.
   
2. Reach Out: hello@kenziesgift.com if you have questions about counselling, therapy, or additional resources for families dealing with cancer.
   

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Nurturing Resilience, One Page at a Time

Navigating a parent’s serious illness is an emotional time for a young mind. With the Kenzie’s Gift Support Kit, children can shape their own understanding, embrace healthier ways to cope with stress, and maintain a strong sense of self—knowing they’re never alone. Start now and give your child the confidence and care they deserve during a challenging chapter of life.