Information for Parents
What Parents of Children with Epilepsy Can Do
It can be hard to figure out the best way to care for your child’s epilepsy. CDC has tools and resources to help you manage your child’s epilepsy and help them live a healthier life.
Learn seizure first aid so you know what to do if your child has a seizure.
- Learn seizure first aid so you know what to do if your child has a seizure.
- Learn about epilepsy in children from the Epilepsy Foundation.
- Understand the basics about epilepsy, like types of seizures and answers to common questions.
- Read about important epilepsy topics on our CDC Features page. Topics include preparing for natural disasters and staying healthy with epilepsy.
- Learn about risk factors for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) in children.
- Talk with your child’s heath care provider to make sure your child’s seizures are controlled as much as they can be.
- Look for a health care provider that specializes in epilepsy. You can use the American Epilepsy Society’s Find a Doctor Search Tool.
- Learn more about treatment options for your child with epilepsy, including clinical trials.
- Teach your child skills to manage their epilepsy.
- Be prepared for emergencies and natural disasters.
Sometimes listening is the best form of support.
- Sometimes listening is the best form of support. Talk to your child regularly about their seizures, their feelings about having epilepsy, and if they feel safe and supported at school.
- Help your child understand epilepsy with CDC’s Body and Mind (BAM) website. CDC’s BAM website teaches children aged 9 to 12 years what a seizure looks like, reviews facts about epilepsy, addresses epilepsy stigma, and covers seizure first aid.
- Get ideas on how to explain epilepsy and talk to your children from the Epilepsy Foundation.
Get tips on how to talk to your teen about their epilepsy and support them as they learn how to manage their condition on their own.
The teenaged years can bring extra challenges for children with epilepsy. Learn how you can support your teen during their transition to adulthood.
- CDC’s You Are Not Alone Parent Toolkit helps parents deal with issues that may come up during the teen years for their children with epilepsy, such as driving and learning how to manage epilepsy independently.
- Prepare for your child’s transition from pediatric to adult health care systems. Find practical tips, tools, and videos on the Child Neurology Foundation’s Transition of Care webpage.
- Learn more about teens with epilepsy from the Epilepsy Foundation.
Make sure your child’s school understands epilepsy and how to provide seizure first aid.
- Create a Seizure Action Plan [PDF-266KB] by working with your child’s school and health care provider.
- Find trainings and awareness programs for school staff and students on our Epilepsy in Schools page.
Find social support and professional help for managing your child’s epilepsy.
Visit our Find Support page to find free resources, such as
- A 24/7 toll-free information helpline.
- An online community forum.
- Patient assistance programs for paying for medicine.