Parenting while recovering from a concussion
Plan school runs, meals and childcare, and ask for the help you need while you heal
Your 7 year old has to be at school by 8:15, and your toddler is up at 6. Since the crash, your head aches by midmorning, noise wears you out, and your care team has told you not to drive yet. The lunch boxes and the pickup line are still waiting.
You may feel guilty asking for help, or tempted to push through. Pushing through can leave you more drained, and it can put children in unsafe spots, such as a car with a dizzy driver.
This guide helps you plan the parts of parenting that a concussion makes hard. It covers school runs without driving, meals and chores, backup childcare and what to tell your children. It also gives you words for asking others for specific help. For scripts that explain your symptoms to relatives and children in more depth, see our article on explaining persistent concussion symptoms to your family.
Start with safety: driving and supervision
The Living Concussion Guidelines, clinical guidelines from Ontario, say a person who still has concussion symptoms should not drive [1]. Their advice is to wait to drive until symptoms have settled to the point where driving is safe [1]. That rule matters even more with children in the back seat.
A TBI Model Systems factsheet suggests making the choice to drive again together with your family and health care providers [2]. What the law allows after a brain injury differs from one state to the next [2]. Until someone on your care team says you are ready, plan every school run, practice and playdate as if your car is not an option.
Watching young children on low energy days
A TBI Model Systems factsheet lists fatigue among the problems people most often have after a brain injury [3]. When you are worn out, it is harder to keep close watch on a toddler or a baby.
Some tasks need full attention. In a 2012 warning, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission advised keeping a young child within arm’s reach in the bath [4]. If you have to step away, bring the child along, and never let another child stand in as the one watching a baby in the tub [4]. On a bad day, a bath can wait until another adult is home.
Safety checklist for days alone with young children
Checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- Plan baths, cooking on the stove and trips to the park for times when another adult is around or your symptoms are mild.
- Rest while the children are at school, napping or with another adult, not while a toddler is loose in the house.
- Set up one safe play area, such as a gated room with toys, where you can sit nearby and rest your eyes.
- Keep a phone charged and with you, with a nearby adult who can come quickly on speed dial.
- Teach children old enough to understand how and when to call 911.
- Ask your care team whether any of your medicines can make you drowsy.
Danger signs: get emergency help right away
The CDC lists warning signs that mean someone with a concussion needs emergency care. If you notice any of them in yourself, call 911 or have another adult take you to an emergency department, and arrange care for your children [5]:
- A headache that will not quit and keeps growing worse
- Weakness or numbness, clumsiness, convulsions or seizures
- Throwing up over and over
- Slurred words or odd behavior
- Pupils of unequal size
- Confusion, agitation or restlessness, or trouble telling who people are or where you are
- Fainting, extreme drowsiness or being unable to wake up
Plan school runs that do not need you to drive
Start by listing every trip your children make in a normal week. Include school drop off and pickup, practices, lessons and appointments. Then sort them into trips that must happen and trips that can pause for a while.
For the trips that must happen, look at options that do not need you in the driver’s seat. One is a walking school bus. In this setup, described in an undated guide from the National Center for Safe Routes to School, one or more adults walk a group of kids to school together [6]. Two families can simply trade off days [6]. If you can walk short distances without symptoms and your care team agrees, you might take the easier days and another parent the harder ones.
The guide lists suggested ratios from the CDC: one adult for every three children ages 4 to 6, and one adult for every six children ages 7 to 9 [6]. Children 10 and older may need fewer adults [6].
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
School run options when you cannot drive
| Option | How it works | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| School bus | District bus on a set route | Whether your child is eligible and the stop times |
| Walking school bus | Families take turns walking a group | Route safety and adult ratios by age |
| Carpool | Another family drives on set days | Car seats or boosters for each child |
| Partner or relative | A family member drives on set days | A backup for sick days and storms |
| Before or after school program | Care on site before or after classes | Cost, waitlists and hours |
Ratios and walking school bus details from the National Center for Safe Routes to School [6].
Tell the school
Headway, a UK brain injury charity, advises telling schools what is going on and keeping them updated [7]. Ask the office how to add new adults to your child’s approved pickup list. Tell the teacher who will be at the door each day, so your child is not surprised.
A 2019 Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center guide for military families facing moderate or severe TBI also suggests meeting with teachers [8]. For a concussion, a short email to the teacher may be enough.
Weekly school run plan
Worksheet from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
School runs for the week
| Day | Drop off by | Pick up by | Backup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Grandpa Joe, 8:00 | Walking group, 3:10 | Neighbor Ana |
| Tuesday | |||
| Wednesday | |||
| Thursday | |||
| Friday |
The Monday row is a made up example. Post a copy on the fridge and send one to every helper.
Make meals and housework smaller
A concussion often means you have less energy and less patience for noise. The TBI Model Systems fatigue factsheet suggests following a daily schedule, doing the hardest physical or mental tasks earlier in the day, and taking regular rest breaks [3]. It also advises easing back into activities over weeks or even months [3].
Headway’s guide on parenting after brain injury, last reviewed in 2017, gives examples of small changes that keep a household running [9]. In one, a mother makes all the next day’s lunches at 9 every evening. In another, a family checks supplies every Saturday morning with a checklist [9]. The guide also suggests a calendar or whiteboard in the kitchen showing what each child needs for school on each day [9].
Ideas that cut the work
- Pick five or six easy dinners and repeat them each week, so you do not have to plan from scratch.
- Cook double on a good day and freeze half.
- Order groceries for pickup or delivery to skip loud, bright stores.
- Pack lunches and lay out clothes the night before, when the house is quiet.
- Let laundry wait a day, and fold it sitting down.
- Give children age sized jobs, such as setting the table or feeding the dog.
Keep children’s chores fair
Children may take on more at home when a parent is unwell. In a 2013 study from the University of Copenhagen, researchers interviewed 14 children ages 7 to 14 who had high levels of trauma stress symptoms [10]. Each lived with a parent with an acquired brain injury, and chores and responsibilities came up as a main theme [10]. The researchers found the children often hid their own sense of loss to protect the ill parent [10].
Headway notes that some children take on extra caring jobs, and says they should get regular chances to talk about how they feel with someone they trust [7]. Thank your children for helping, but keep jobs fit for their age. Check in now and then about how they are doing.
Weekly home checklist
Checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- Five easy dinners chosen and groceries ordered.
- Lunches, bags and clothes ready the night before.
- School calendar on the fridge with sports days, field trips and forms.
- One chore per child, posted where they can see it.
- One rest break a day that no one books over.
- One thing you enjoy with your children that does not drain you, such as a short story or a quiet game.
Line up childcare and backup care
Even with a good plan, you will have days when symptoms flare. Line up backup care before you need it. Think about relatives, a trusted neighbor, another school parent who can swap favors, or a sitter for a few hours after school.
Headway suggests trying to predict stressful times and setting up breaks for yourself, and agreeing with a partner on times when you can step away from the children [9]. For example, a partner might take over bath and bedtime three nights a week.
Where to look for paid care
Childcare.gov, run by the federal Office of Child Care, links families to child care options in their state and to resources that can help pay for care [11]. Child Care Aware of America keeps a state by state map of local resources for child care and financial help [12]. Rules and waitlists differ a great deal by state and county, so call early.
Some communities have crisis nurseries. The ARCH National Respite Network describes them as programs that offer quick stress relief for parents in times of crisis, and says some serve children from birth to 18 [13]. Ask your local child care resource agency or hospital social worker whether one exists near you.
Time off work
A federal law called the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) can give working parents job protected leave when their own serious health condition keeps them from working [14]. The leave may be unpaid. It also covers leave to care for a spouse, so if you are married, your spouse may be able to take time to help at home [14]. Leave can be taken all at once or in short blocks, and eligibility depends on your employer and your work history [14]. Ask your HR office, and check whether your state has its own leave rules.
Explain the new plan to your children
Headway says research suggests children cope much better when they are told the truth [7]. They do not need every medical detail. They do need to know why things are changing and who will take care of them. A guide from Ireland’s National Rehabilitation Hospital notes that school age children can grasp symptoms they cannot see, as long as they are clearly explained [15].
Children may also worry more than they show [10]. A 2013 study by researchers in Denmark looked at 35 families where a parent had an acquired brain injury, a group that included strokes as well as head injuries [16]. Children ages 7 to 14 had higher stress and behavior problem scores when the other parent reported more family stress [16]. That is a link and does not prove cause, and neither study focused on concussion. Still, it is one more reason for both parents to get support.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
What to tell children about the new plan, by age
| Age | What to explain | Sample words |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | Who drives, who picks up, quiet time | My head got hurt. Grandpa will take you to school for now. |
| 6 to 11 | Unseen symptoms and the new routine | Noise makes my headache worse, so we have a quiet hour after school. |
| 12 and up | Honest facts and what to say to friends | I can’t drive until my doctor says I’m ready. You can tell friends I’m healing. |
Based on family guides from Headway, Ireland’s National Rehabilitation Hospital and the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center [7, 15, 8].
A few points hold at every age. Headway recommends keeping routines like the usual school run, mealtimes and after school clubs as steady as you can [7]. Tell children that nothing they did caused your injury [15]. The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center guide also warns against promising children a date when recovery will be done [8]. You can say you are getting better and that your care team is helping.
Ask for specific help
Friends and relatives often mean it when they offer help, yet they may have no idea what you need. Headway suggests asking family and friends to help where they can [7]. A clear request, with a day and a time, is easier to say yes to and easier to remember.
Headway also stresses that the injured parent remains a mom or dad first [9]. Let helpers take over the driving, errands and heavy chores. Keep the parts of parenting that matter most to you, such as bedtime stories or homework talks, if your energy allows.
An example
Imagine a 39 year old single father. Four months ago, a van ran a stop sign and hit his car broadside. He still gets headaches and dizziness, and he is not cleared to drive. His daughter, 9, and son, 5, attend the same school a mile away.
He joins two other families in a walking group three mornings a week. His sister drives on the other two days, and a neighbor is his backup. He cooks on Sunday afternoons and freezes three dinners. After school, the children get a quiet hour with books while he rests in the next room. He tells his son: My head is still healing, so Aunt Kim drives on Mondays and Fridays.
If you feel hopeless
Long recoveries can be hard on parents, and Headway points out that low mood and anxiety happen often after brain injury [9]. If you ever feel hopeless or think about harming yourself, reach out right away.
- Dial or text 988 at any hour to talk with a Lifeline counselor, or use the chat window on 988lifeline.org [17].
- If you are a veteran or in the military, or love someone who is, call 988 and choose 1, or text 838255 [18].
- Spanish speakers can reach a counselor by dialing 988 and then pressing 2 [18].
- If you or anyone in your home is in immediate danger, call 911.
Questions to ask your care team
Question checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- When can I safely drive my children again, and how will we decide?
- Is it safe for me to be alone with my baby or toddler for a full day right now?
- Are there tasks I should avoid for now, such as heavy lifting or long trips to busy stores?
- Do any of my medicines cause sleepiness or slower reactions?
- How much activity and rest should a day include at this stage?
- Can an occupational therapist help me plan meals, chores and the school routine?
- If I need time off, will you complete my FMLA paperwork or give me a work note?
- Is there anyone here who could meet with my kids and explain what happened to me?
Frequently asked questions
When can I drive my kids to school again?
Hold off until your care team says your symptoms are calm enough for safe driving. The Living Concussion Guidelines advise that people with ongoing concussion symptoms should not drive [1]. Rules differ from state to state, so check with your care team and your state licensing agency about the rules where you live [2].
Should I tell my child’s teacher about my concussion?
Yes, a short note helps. Headway suggests telling schools about changes at home and keeping them updated [7]. Teachers can watch for changes in your child and help with new pickup plans.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
A concussion that lingers changes how you parent for a while. Keep children safe first: no driving until your care team clears you, and close watch at bath time and near water. Then shrink the week down with a school run plan, simple meals and a backup for every task.
Tell your children the truth in words that fit their age, and ask friends and family for specific help. School transportation, child care help and leave rules differ by district, state and employer, so check with your school, your state child care office and your HR department.
Sources and further reading
- 1Living Concussion Guidelines. Initial management (adult guideline). Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Recommendations updated August 2022. concussionsontario.org/…/initial_management
- 2Novack T, Marwitz J, Hollis S, Rapport L, Klebine P. Driving after traumatic brain injury. Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center. 2024. msktc.org/…/driving-after-traumatic-brain-injury
- 3Bell KR. Fatigue and traumatic brain injury. Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center. Updated 2024. msktc.org/…/fatigue-and-traumatic-brain-injury
- 4US Consumer Product Safety Commission. In home danger: CPSC warns of children drowning in bathtubs, bath seats and buckets. Release 12-284. September 27, 2012. cpsc.gov/…/in-home-danger-cpsc-warns-of-children-drowning-in-bathtubs-bath-seats-and-buckets-more-than-400-deaths-estimated-over-a-five-year-period
- 5Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion. Updated September 15, 2025. cdc.gov/…/signs-symptoms/index.html
- 6National Center for Safe Routes to School, Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. The walking school bus: combining safety, fun and the walk to school. Undated (newest reference 2006). pedbikeinfo.org/…/SRTSlocal_WalkingSchoolBus_guide.pdf
- 7Headway (UK). Supporting children when a parent has had a brain injury. Booklet, undated; next review was due 2025. headway.org.uk/…/supporting-children-when-a-parent-has-had-a-brain-injury-e-booklet.pdf
- 8Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. Families: talking with children about moderate or severe TBI. Revised June 2019. biav.net/…/CA-01-Talking-to-Children-about-Parents-w-TBI-Vet-BI-Ctr-2019.0601-1.pdf
- 9Headway (UK). Parenting after brain injury. Booklet, last reviewed 2017; next review was due 2024. headway.org.uk/…/parenting-after-brain-injury-e-booklet.pdf
- 10Kieffer-Kristensen R, Johansen KLG. Hidden loss: a qualitative explorative study of children living with a parent with acquired brain injury. Brain Injury. 2013;27(13-14):1562-1569. doi.org/10.3109/02699052.2013.841995
- 11Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care. Childcare.gov home page. Accessed October 2026. childcare.gov
- 12Child Care Aware of America. State by state resources. Accessed October 2026. childcareaware.org/resources/map
- 13ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center. Types of respite. Updated February 2023. archrespite.org/…/types-of-respite
- 14US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Fact Sheet #28P: Taking leave from work when you or your family member has a serious health condition under the FMLA. March 2025. dol.gov/…/28p-taking-leave-when-you-or-family-has-health-condition
- 15National Rehabilitation Hospital Social Work Department. Talking to children about brain injury: a practical guide for families. 2025. nrh.ie/…/Talking-to-Children-about-Brain-Injury.pdf
- 16Kieffer-Kristensen R, Siersma VD, Teasdale TW. Family matters: parental acquired brain injury and child functioning. NeuroRehabilitation. 2013;32(1):59-68. doi.org/10.3233/NRE-130823
- 17988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Home page. Accessed October 2026. 988lifeline.org
- 18988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Get help. Accessed October 2026. 988lifeline.org/get-help
This article reflects the safety priorities of concussion recovery and family road safety education. It offers general information for parents who are healing from a concussion and is not medical, legal or financial advice. Driving rules, school transportation, child care programs and leave laws differ by state, district and employer, so check official sources and talk with your own care team or a qualified professional before you make changes. Reviewed October 2026.
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