Chronic Pain Family Education Sheets: Daily Functioning

Getting back to normal daily activities can feel like a big challenge when you're struggling with chronic pain. This guide, written for kids and teens, breaks down both the why and how you can make that happen.

Kids (3-11) Tweens & Teens (12+) Chronic pain Everyday life and routines Healthcare Providers Living with ongoing pain Movement and physical therapy Talking about pain Chronic Pain Chronic pain Everyday life and routines Living with ongoing pain Movement and physical therapy Pain Management Talking about pain

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Also available in: Español

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Español — Kids · Adults

English — Kids · Adults

About This Resource

This is a part of our Family Education Sheets Series!

Getting back to normal daily activities is really important but can feel like a big challenge when you’re struggling with chronic pain. This guide, written for kids and teens, breaks down both the why and how. Learn why function improves before pain improves, and discover how small steps like low-impact exercise, a regular schedule, and fun activities can gradually restore energy and strength.

How To Use This Resource

PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS: Learn about why getting back to normal life activities is important for kids chronic pain and strategies for help making things easier on them and on you.

KIDS AND TEENS: Discover why it is so important for you to get back to your usual activities and how you can make it easier for that to happen. It can feel like a big challenge, but there are strategies that can really help.

PROVIDERS: Give this to your patients and families that are dealing with chronic pain so they can understand the important role improving daily functioning plays chronic pain treatment. You likely also want to check out the other education sheets in this series that provide information on school challenges, sleep, CBT therapy, and a guide other reputable chronic pain resources.

Who Is This For

This guide is for kids, teens, and parents and caregivers supporting kids and teens with chronic pain. It’s also useful for healthcare providers.

We have a version just for adults too! (And here is the Spanish translation!)

This guide is part of a collaboration between the Meg Foundation and the Society of Pediatric Psychology’s Pain Special Interest Group.

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A Note About Keeping This Free

Good pain care should be a right, not a privilege.

We’ve spent our careers treating pain and medical anxiety, and we know that comfort and control come from putting the power where it belongs: in your hands. Everything here is free and open source by design. No parent should have to pay to learn how to get their child through a vaccine or a bad headache. No provider should have to hunt for what they need to do their job well. Hundreds of thousands of people have used Meg tools, and not one of them has ever been asked to pay.

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