Psychological and social dimensions of serious illness among children are discussed in this manual for child care personnel in day care homes and centers. Parental feelings and reactions such as denial, anger, guilt, blaming, searching for a cure, more anger and acceptance are outlined. The feelings and attitudes of the preschool child, elementary school child and teenager are indicated. The role of the careperson is defined in terms of thinking seriously about one's own attitudes and feelings, being aware of and dealing with the attitudes and actions of other children, the day-to-day management of the seriously ill child within the day home or center setting, helping the intermittently hospitalized child, and consulting with parents on continuity between school, home and hospital. An appendix lists serious diseases and briefly describes them. (A slide/sound presentation and pamphlets were produced in conjunction with this manual.) (RH)