When a child is diagnosed with a medical condition—whether it involves the blood, immune system, or long-term treatment—the immediate focus naturally shifts to reports, medicines, procedures, and outcomes. While these are essential, Dr. Shraddha Chandak believes that one equally critical aspect is often overlooked: the child’s emotional growth.
According to Dr. Chandak, healing in children is never purely physical. Emotional well-being, mental resilience, and a sense of normalcy play a decisive role in how children cope, respond to treatment, and grow into confident individuals.
Illness Affects More Than the Body
For children, illness does not exist in isolation. It impacts:
- Sense of safety
- Routine and normalcy
- Confidence and self-image
- Social interaction
- Emotional security
Repeated hospital visits, investigations, and treatments can quietly influence how a child views themselves and the world around them.
Dr. Chandak strongly emphasizes that ignoring emotional growth while treating physical illness can slow overall recovery.
Children Understand More Than We Assume
One common misconception parents have is believing that children are unaware of what is happening around them.
In reality, children often:
- Sense fear and anxiety in adults
- Notice changes in routine
- Feel different from peers
- Internalise uncertainty
Even when not expressed openly, these emotions influence behaviour, sleep, appetite, and cooperation with treatment.
Emotional support is not an add-on—it is a necessity.
Emotional Growth Shapes Treatment Response
Children who feel emotionally supported tend to:
- Cooperate better with treatment
- Communicate discomfort earlier
- Adapt more easily to hospital environments
- Recover faster from setbacks
On the other hand, children who feel frightened or confused may:
- Resist procedures
- Withdraw socially
- Develop fear around healthcare
- Experience long-term anxiety
Dr. Chandak’s approach consistently integrates emotional reassurance alongside medical care.
The Role of Parents in Emotional Development During Illness
Parents are the emotional anchors for children during medical journeys.
However, parents themselves often experience:
- Fear
- Guilt
- Helplessness
- Emotional exhaustion
Children pick up on these emotions quickly.
Dr. Chandak often advises parents that their calm, clarity, and reassurance directly influence their child’s emotional strength—sometimes more than medicines do.
Maintaining a Sense of Childhood Matters
One of Dr. Chandak’s strongest beliefs is this:
a child undergoing treatment should still be allowed to be a child.
This means:
- Encouraging play where possible
- Keeping school connections alive
- Allowing friendships and hobbies
- Avoiding constant reminders of illness
Medical care should adapt around childhood—not replace it entirely.
Why Emotional Growth Is a Long-Term Investment
The impact of childhood illness does not end when treatment ends.
Emotional growth during illness influences:
- Self-esteem in adolescence
- Coping skills in adulthood
- Relationship with healthcare
- Confidence in social settings
Children who feel supported emotionally grow into adults who view their medical journey as a phase—not an identity.
Communication Makes the Difference
Age-appropriate communication is key.
Dr. Chandak believes in:
- Explaining procedures honestly but gently
- Avoiding unnecessary fear
- Allowing children to ask questions
- Respecting emotional responses
When children understand why something is happening, fear reduces and trust increases.
Emotional Growth Is Not About Avoiding Reality
Supporting emotional growth does not mean hiding the truth or pretending illness does not exist.
It means:
- Acknowledging challenges honestly
- Providing reassurance without false promises
- Creating emotional safety
- Offering consistent support
This balanced approach builds resilience rather than denial.
A Message for Parents Across Marathwada
Families across Marathwada and Maharashtra are increasingly navigating complex medical journeys with their children. Dr. Chandak encourages parents to remember that strong emotional foundations often determine how smoothly that journey unfolds.
Physical treatment heals the body.
Emotional growth strengthens the child.
Both are equally important.
Final Thought
A child’s growth is not measured only in centimetres, blood counts, or reports.
According to Dr. Shraddha Chandak, true healing happens when physical recovery is supported by emotional strength, reassurance, and preserved childhood.
When emotional growth is protected, children don’t just survive illness—they continue to grow, adapt, and thrive.