What Should I Do If My Child Gets a Concussion? A Complete Guide for Parents
If your child has suffered a head injury during sports or physical activity, you’re likely asking yourself: “What should I do if my child gets a concussion?” This guide answers the most common questions parents have about recognizing, managing, and recovering from youth concussions.
How Do I Know If My Child Has a Concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. You don’t need to lose consciousness to have a concussion—in fact, most concussions occur without passing out.
What Are the Signs of a Concussion in Children?
Watch for these common concussion symptoms in young athletes:
Physical symptoms:
- Headache or pressure in the head
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurred or double vision
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Feeling tired or sluggish
Cognitive symptoms:
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering
- Confusion or feeling “foggy”
- Slower reaction times
- Difficulty answering questions
Emotional symptoms:
- Irritability or mood changes
- Increased anxiety or nervousness
- Sadness or emotional outbursts
Sleep symptoms:
- Sleeping more or less than usual
- Trouble falling asleep
- Drowsiness during the day
If your child shows any of these symptoms after a head injury, they should stop playing immediately and be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
What Should I Do Immediately After My Child Hits Their Head?
Step 1: Remove Them From Play Immediately
When in doubt, sit them out. If you suspect a concussion, your child must stop playing right away. Continuing to play with a concussion increases the risk of more serious brain injury.
Step 2: Monitor for Worsening Symptoms
Watch your child closely for the first 24-48 hours. Seek emergency medical attention if they experience:
- Severe or worsening headache
- Repeated vomiting
- Seizures or convulsions
- Loss of consciousness
- Increasing confusion or disorientation
- Weakness or numbness in arms or legs
- Slurred speech
- Unusual behavior or personality changes
Step 3: Get a Medical Evaluation
All suspected concussions should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional—either a physician, nurse practitioner, or sports medicine specialist. They can provide an accurate diagnosis and create a recovery plan.
Step 4: Report the Injury
Notify your child’s coach, school, and any relevant sport organizations about the injury. Proper documentation ensures everyone involved in your child’s care is informed and can monitor their recovery appropriately.
Can My Child Go to School With a Concussion?
Yes, but they may need accommodations. Concussions affect cognitive function, so schoolwork can be challenging during recovery.
What School Accommodations Does My Child Need?
Common accommodations for students recovering from concussion include:
- Reduced screen time and limited computer work
- Extra time on tests and assignments
- Frequent breaks during the school day
- Reduced homework load or modified assignments
- Quiet testing environment to minimize distractions
- Delayed return to school if symptoms are severe
- No physical education or recess activities
Work with your child’s school to create a return-to-learn plan that allows gradual reintroduction of academic demands as symptoms improve.
How Long Does It Take for a Child to Recover From a Concussion?
Recovery time varies by individual. Most children recover within 2-4 weeks, but some may take longer, especially if they’ve had previous concussions.
What Affects Concussion Recovery Time?
Several factors influence how quickly your child recovers:
- Age: Younger children and teenagers often take longer to recover than adults
- Concussion history: Previous concussions can extend recovery time
- Symptom severity: More severe symptoms typically mean longer recovery
- Rest and compliance: Following medical advice speeds recovery
- Individual differences: Every brain heals at its own pace
When Can My Child Return to Sports After a Concussion?
Your child must follow a gradual return-to-sport protocol supervised by a healthcare professional. They cannot return to contact sports until they are:
- Completely symptom-free during rest and daily activities
- Cleared by a doctor or nurse practitioner
- Successfully completed all stages of the return-to-sport protocol
Returning to sports too soon increases the risk of second impact syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal condition that occurs when the brain suffers another injury before fully healing.
What Should My Child Avoid During Concussion Recovery?
Activities to Avoid
During the initial recovery phase, your child should avoid:
- Contact sports and physical activities that risk re-injury
- Excessive screen time (phones, tablets, computers, video games, TV)
- Loud environments like concerts or crowded events
- Bright lights that trigger symptoms
- Mentally demanding tasks that worsen symptoms
- Alcohol (for teenagers)
- Driving until cleared by a doctor
What Can My Child Do During Recovery?
Light activities that don’t provoke symptoms are okay:
- Reading for short periods
- Listening to music at low volume
- Light walking
- Socializing with friends in quiet settings
- Gentle stretching
The key is to rest the brain while staying lightly active. Complete isolation isn’t necessary, but overstimulation should be avoided.
Should I Wake My Child Up During the Night After a Concussion?
This is a common concern for parents. You do not need to wake your child every hour unless specifically instructed by a doctor.
However, it’s reasonable to check on them 2-3 times during the first night after injury to ensure they can be easily awakened and aren’t showing worsening symptoms. If you cannot wake them or notice concerning symptoms, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Can My Child Have Another Concussion?
Yes. Athletes who have had one concussion are at higher risk for subsequent concussions. Each additional concussion can:
- Take longer to recover from
- Cause more severe symptoms
- Increase risk of long-term complications
This is why proper concussion management, complete recovery, and medical clearance before returning to sport are absolutely critical.
How Can I Prevent Future Concussions?
While not all concussions are preventable, you can reduce risk by:
- Ensuring proper equipment fit (helmets, mouthguards)
- Teaching safe playing techniques and body positioning
- Enforcing fair play rules and penalizing dangerous play
- Strengthening neck muscles to reduce head movement on impact
- Recognizing concussion symptoms early and removing athletes from play
- Using concussion management platforms like CONCUSSIONALERT for real-time reporting and tracking
How Does CONCUSSIONALERT Help Parents Manage Concussions?
Managing your child’s concussion involves coordination between parents, coaches, teachers, and healthcare professionals. CONCUSSIONALERT makes this easier by providing:
- Immediate injury notifications sent to all relevant parties
- Free virtual consultations with Registered Kinesiologists within 24 hours of injury
- Access to Nurse Practitioners for medical clearance and return-to-play decisions
- Secure documentation of injury reports, symptoms, and recovery progress
- Annual concussion education for coaches and parents
- Compliance with Rowan’s Law and best-practice concussion standards
- Transferable athlete profiles that follow your child across teams and seasons
With CONCUSSIONALERT, you have peace of mind knowing your child’s concussion is being managed properly and all stakeholders are informed.
What Questions Should I Ask My Child’s Doctor?
When meeting with a healthcare provider about your child’s concussion, consider asking:
- What symptoms should I monitor?
- When should my child return to school?
- What accommodations does my child need at school?
- When can they start the return-to-sport protocol?
- Are there any activities they should completely avoid?
- When should we schedule a follow-up appointment?
- What signs indicate I should seek emergency care?
Conclusion: Trust Your Instincts and Prioritize Safety
If you suspect your child has a concussion, always err on the side of caution. Remove them from play, seek medical evaluation, and follow professional guidance for recovery. While most children recover fully from concussions, proper management is essential to prevent complications and ensure long-term brain health.
Remember: When in doubt, sit them out. Your child’s safety is always more important than any game.