Like learning to read or ride a bike, taking responsibility for your own healthcare is an important part of childhood development. By starting early, you can help your child with hemophilia become more responsible for his treatment and begin building his involvement over the years.

NHF's First Steps program is a collaborative model of new parent/family education. Chapters, associations, HTCs, parents and guardians work together to provide education and support for families.

Consider these tips for involving your child early:

• Explain the disease in simple terms and use pictures.
• Provide a sense of control and involvement
• Let him decide to be infused on the left or right arm
• Have him hold the band-aid or choose one vein over another
• Ask him to help with record keeping
• Talk with your child about early signs of bleeding.
• Teach him about activities that are safe and then allow him to participate in decisions about which to say yes to.
• Understand your child's individuality
• Is he an introvert or extrovert?
• How does he describe his hemophilia?
• Which of his friends know?
• How will he say "no" to danger?
• Rehearse saying no as what words will he use?
• Get involved! Resources can be found in many places, such as your local NHF chapter or HTC.
• Family members, friends and others your child interacts with daily can be important contributors to your child's educational development for living with hemophilia.
• Reassure your child that he's not solely responsible for his healthcare - it takes a village.
• A new study found that boys ages 13-20 were misinformed about hemophilia. ¹ How knowledgeable is your son?