That's why we chose to have Marykate participate in The Children's Circle. Our two older sons who were 15 and 17 at the time didn't attend, because we were able to have many honest, extensive conversations with them. But we felt less sure about Marykate's well-being. According to Kaplan, waiting until there are obvious signs of distress is not the ideal time to seek help. Cancer is not a typical, everyday stressor.
Children often fantasize the worst and worry about things parents least expect.
According to Moore, it's helped to make Marykate, now age 8, extremely resilient and capable. But I think the more important quality is that she knows she has some control over her destiny. The coping skills she learned in The Children's Circle are helpful in all aspects of her life. Preliminary screening is necessary for all children registering for The Children's Circle.