Help Your Child Stay Connected to School During Treatment
When your child has a serious health condition, school may look and feel different. They may miss class, school events, or time with friends. But they can still stay connected to school in ways that fit their health, energy, and treatment plan.
Staying involved with school during treatment helps your child keep learning and feel included. It can also make the transition back to school easier.
A school plan can include more than assignments. It can help your child stay connected with teachers, classmates, classroom routines, school activities, and friends.
Why staying connected to school matters
Staying connected to school may help your child:
- Keep learning when possible
- Feel remembered and included
- Take part in school activities when they can
- Prepare to return to school later
Work with your child's school early
Talk with your child’s teacher, school counselor, or school support team as soon as you can. Together, you can make a plan that meets your child’s needs.
Your child’s care team or hospital school program may be able to work with the school. If your hospital does not have a school program, ask your child’s care team who can help.
It can help to choose 1 contact at your child’s school who will share updates and answer questions. Good communication can make it easier for everyone to support your child.
You may talk about:
- How often your child may miss school
- How your child will get assignments
- How completed schoolwork should be returned
- Ways your child can learn from home or the hospital
- School accommodations your child may need
- How your child can stay connected with classmates and friends
- Plans for returning to school
Top tips
- Talk with the school early.
- Plan for schoolwork and communication.
- Use school-approved technology.
- Let your child help make decisions when they are ready.
- Be flexible as needs change.
Involve your child in decisions
As children get older, they may want to help make choices about school.
Encourage your child to share what activities matter most to them and how they would like to stay involved.
Help your child keep learning
Treatment can affect your child's energy, schedule, and ability to focus. Your child may not be able to complete every assignment. That is OK.
Talk with the school about:
The goal is to help your child keep learning without feeling overwhelmed.
Programs such as Monkey in My Chair and HopeCam may help some children stay involved in learning and classroom activities. Ask your care team or school support team if these resources might help.
School plan checklist
Key contacts
- Main school contact:
- Backup school contact:
- Care team or hospital school contact:
- Best way to share updates:
Learning and assignments
- How will assignments be shared and returned?
- Which assignments are most important?
- Which subject areas will your hospital teacher focus on?
- Which subject areas need to be worked on outside of the hospital school program?
Technology
- Which school tools will your child use?
- Who can help with technology problems?
Connection with classmates and activities
- How does your child want to stay connected with classmates?
- Which classes, activities, clubs, or events matter most?
- Are there school rules about joining events online or in person?
Privacy
- What health information can be shared?
- Who may share updates?
- What should stay private during video calls or school activities?
Use technology to stay involved
Many schools use online tools to share assignments, grades, and updates. Some also let students join classes or activities from the hospital or home.
Technology can help some children:
- Attend classes
- Connect with classmates
- Stay involved even when they cannot attend school in person
Ask your child's school which tools they use. Examples may include:
- Classroom websites
- Learning platforms
- Video meetings
- Parent communication apps
- Online grade portals
Schools may also use tools such as ClassDojo, Seesaw, Canvas, or PowerSchool. Use the tools your child's school suggests whenever you can.
Stay involved in school activities
School connection is about more than learning. Children may also miss clubs, assemblies, performances, field trips, and special events.
When possible, your child may be able to:
- Join class discussions online
- Take part in group projects
- Watch assemblies or performances
- Get updates from clubs or teams
- Celebrate milestones with classmates
These activities can help children feel connected to their school community.
Older children and teens may worry about missing important events such as prom, homecoming, sporting events, or graduation activities. Talk with the school early if these events are important to your child.
Some schools have rules about attending events when students are not attending classes in person. Plan ahead to help avoid disappointment.
Protect your child’s privacy
Before your child joins online school activities, think about privacy. You may need to:
- Decide what health information to share
- Use school-approved technology
- Follow school and hospital privacy rules
- Avoid showing other patients during video calls
If your child joins a class from a hospital or clinic, make sure private health information cannot be seen or heard.
Be flexible when plans change
Treatment can be unpredictable. Some days your child may feel ready to learn and connect with others. Other days they may need more rest.
School plans may need to change over time. Focus on what matters most and adjust plans as needed. A flexible approach can help reduce stress for children and families.
Prepare for your child's return to school
Staying connected during treatment can make returning to school easier.
It may help your child:
- Stay familiar with teachers and classmates
- Keep up with classroom routines
- Continue learning when possible
- Maintain important friendships
- Feel more comfortable returning to school
Before your child returns, talk with the school about the support your child may need. Some children benefit from accommodations, shorter school days, or a gradual return to school. Working with the school ahead of time can help make the transition smoother.
Questions to ask your child's school
- What paperwork is needed for my child to receive homebound services?
- How will attendance be handled during this time?
- Who should we contact with questions?
- How will assignments be shared?
- Which assignments are most important?
- Can my child join classes online?
- What technology does the school use?
- How can classmates stay connected with my child?
- What support is available when my child returns to school?
Key points about staying connected to school during treatment
- Staying connected to school can help children keep learning and feel included.
- School connection includes learning, teachers, classmates, activities, and school events.
- Talking with the school early can help families make a plan.
- Technology can help children take part in school from home or the hospital.
- Staying connected during treatment can make returning to school easier.
- School plans should change as your child's needs change.
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Reviewed: September 2026
