My Child Has a Concussion – Now What? A Parent’s Guide to Concussions

No parent wants to hear that their child has a concussion. It can be overwhelming, confusing, and a little scary — especially with all the outdated or conflicting advice out there.

But here’s the good news: with the right steps, most children and teens make a full recovery. This summary walks you through what to expect and what to do after your child suffers a concussion, from the first few days to getting them safely back to school and sport. Dig deeper into the topic with this article by Steven Murray. 

What Exactly Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head — or even a hit to the body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. This movement can temporarily disrupt how brain cells function, leading to a wide range of symptoms.

Importantly, concussions don’t show up on standard imaging like CT scans or MRIs. That’s because they are functional, not structural injuries — the brain looks normal, but it’s not working quite right.

Signs and Symptoms to Watch For

Symptoms may show up right away or develop over hours or even days. Watch for:

• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or balance issues
• Trouble concentrating or remembering
• Mood changes or irritability
• Sleep disturbance
• Sensitivity to light or noise

You don’t need all the symptoms for it to be a concussion. If your child has any of these signs after a hit, it’s time to rest and get them checked out.

🚨 Red flags (go to the ER immediately):

• One pupil larger than the other
• Seizures
• Repeated vomiting
• Slurred speech
• Drowsiness that worsens or difficulty waking

Rest vs. Activity — What’s the Right Balance?

For the first 24–48 hours, your child should have symptom-limited rest. That means avoiding anything that makes symptoms worse (e.g. screens, loud environments), but they don’t need to sit in a dark room all day.

Gentle movement, short conversations, and some screen time may be okay — as long as it doesn’t increase symptoms.

After 2 days, gradual reintroduction of light cognitive and physical activity is actually beneficial. This includes things like walking, board games, or short periods of schoolwork at home.

When to See a Concussion Specialist

Early evaluation by a concussion-trained healthcare provider can:

• Confirm the diagnosis
• Identify other issues (like neck or vestibular involvement)
• Guide a safe return to school and sport

📅 Find a Certified Concussion Clinic near you

The earlier you get help, the smoother and faster the recovery — and the lower the risk of long-term symptoms.

Returning to School Safely

Going back to class too soon can make symptoms worse. But waiting too long can also create anxiety and academic struggles.

Work with your child’s provider and school to develop a return-to-learn plan, which may include:

• Reduced hours or half days
• Extra breaks
• Adjusted homework load
• Wearing sunglasses or noise-canceling headphones temporarily

Most kids can return to full school within a week or two with proper support.

Returning to Sport

Children and teens must not return to sport until:

• They are completely symptom-free at rest and with physical activity
• They’ve gone through a graduated return-to-play protocol supervised by a trained provider

💡 Baseline testing can help guide safe return and detect subtle deficits.

🏥 Book your child’s baseline or post-injury assessment: Find a Clinic

What If Symptoms Don’t Go Away?

If symptoms last longer than 4 weeks, your child may be experiencing persistent concussion symptoms (PCS). A recent study by Trbovich et al. (2024) found that pediatric patients who had delayed access to concussion care and showed symptom provocation during VOMS testing were significantly more likely to experience prolonged recovery. Specifically, each day of delayed assessment increased the odds of protracted recovery by 1.2 times, while positive VOMS findings raised the odds by more than eightfold..

Parks et al. (2024) reported that children with persistent post-concussion symptoms were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or other behavioral health conditions over the four years following their injury.. Early intervention not only supports symptom resolution, but may also reduce the risk of long-term psychological effects.

🎓 If your child is still struggling, our Free 90-Minute Patient Workshop walks parents through what persistent symptoms mean — and how to fix them.

🏥 Book an appointment at a Certified Concussion Clinic to get a tailored recovery plan backed by the latest evidence.