At a glance
- A child can have a concussion without ever passing out.
- No sports or rough play on the day of the injury, even if your child feels fine.
- Call 911 for a seizure, repeated vomiting, a worsening headache or trouble waking.
- A doctor should check your child within 24 to 48 hours of the injury.
- Limit screens and mentally hard tasks for 1 to 2 days; short walks are fine.
- Most children go back to school within 1 to 2 days, with extra support if needed.
- Return to sports follows 6 steps, each at least 24 hours, once a doctor approves.
What a concussion is
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury. A blow or jolt makes the brain move quickly inside the skull and changes how it works for a while.
Signs can appear right away or hours to days later. A normal CT scan does not rule it out, because the injury changes how the brain works, not how it looks.
Common symptoms
Symptoms fall into four groups. Your child may say they just do not feel right.
| Type | What you may notice |
|---|---|
| Physical | Headache, nausea, dizziness, blurry or double vision, bothered by light or noise |
| Thinking and memory | Foggy or slowed down, slow to answer, trouble focusing, no memory of the hit |
| Mood | Irritable, sad, more emotional or nervous than usual |
| Sleep | Sleeping more or less than usual, or trouble falling asleep |
Danger signs: call 911
Call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the emergency department, if any of these appear after a head injury.
- A seizure, with shaking or twitching.
- A headache that keeps getting worse.
- Vomiting or nausea that keeps coming back.
- Very drowsy, cannot be woken, or passed out and is getting sleepier.
- Slurred speech, weakness, numbness or poor coordination.
- One pupil larger than the other, or double vision.
- Growing confusion, agitation or strange behavior, or not recognizing people or places.
- In babies and toddlers: crying that cannot be soothed, or refusing to nurse or eat.
Concussion: when to get help
- Call 911Seizure, worsening headache, repeated vomiting, hard to wake, slurred speech or unequal pupils.
- Doctor within 24 to 48 hoursAny suspected concussion, even without passing out.
- Call the doctorSymptoms worse or not easing, school very hard, or low mood or anxiety.
- Home careRest for 1 to 2 days, light activity, then a gradual return to school.
The first days at home
- See a doctor within 24 to 48 hours, even if symptoms seem mild.
- For the first 1 to 2 days, cut back on screens and on activities that tax the body or the mind.
- Let your child rest when tired, but do not keep them in a dark room all day.
- Short walks and other light activity are fine; ease off if symptoms flare.
- You do not need to wake your child from sleep to check on them unless the doctor asks you to.
- Call the doctor if symptoms get worse or will not go away, or if your child feels anxious, sad or hopeless.
Going back to school
Many children return to class within a day or two, often while a few symptoms remain. Ask the doctor to fill out the CDC HEADS UP Letter to Schools so teachers know what support to give.
Remove the supports little by little as symptoms ease. Being back in class does not mean being back in sports, contact PE or rough recess games.
- Rest breaks, and visits to the school nurse for headaches.
- Extra time for homework and tests, with no more than one test a day.
- Shorter assignments focused on the key work, plus copies of class notes.
- Sunglasses or a seat away from bright light, and a quiet place to study or eat lunch.
- A trusted adult who checks on mood, and a quiet spot to go when overwhelmed.
A typical recovery
- Day of injuryStop play for the day and watch for danger signs.
- First 24 to 48 hoursDoctor visit; fewer screens, light walks.
- Within 1 to 2 daysBack to school, with supports if needed.
- Once school is going wellWith the doctor’s OK, start the 6 sports steps.
- 2 to 4 weeksMost children feel better; ask about a specialist if not.
Return to sports: 6 steps
Begin only when your child is fully back at school and daily life and the doctor approves. Each step usually lasts at least 24 hours, so the whole plan takes a week or more.
Move up only if no new symptoms appear. If symptoms come back, stop, contact the doctor, and after more rest restart at the step before.
| Step | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1. Back to regular activities | School and daily life, with the doctor’s OK to start the steps. |
| 2. Light aerobic activity | About 5 to 10 minutes of walking, light jogging or a stationary bike; no weights. |
| 3. Moderate activity | Brief running, moderate jogging or biking, and lighter weights than usual. |
| 4. Heavy, non-contact activity | Sprinting, hard biking, the usual weight routine and non-contact sport drills. |
| 5. Practice and full contact | Controlled team practice, with full contact if the sport has it. |
| 6. Competition | Back to games and matches. |
Common questions
Can you have a concussion without passing out?
Yes. Blacking out is only one possible sign; a dazed look, headache or feeling “off” after a hit can also mean a concussion.
Should I keep my child awake after a head injury?
No. Sleep is fine and helps healing; get emergency help if you ever cannot rouse your child.
How long does a concussion last in a child?
Most kids are back to normal in 2 to 4 weeks. When symptoms last longer, the doctor may involve a specialist.
When can my child go back to school after a concussion?
Usually after 1 to 2 days, even with mild symptoms left, as long as the school allows breaks and a lighter load.
When can my child play sports again after a concussion?
Only after a doctor clears it and your child gets through all 6 stages symptom-free, which takes a week or longer.
Is screen time bad after a concussion?
Phones, games and TV are best kept to a minimum for the first 1 to 2 days, then added back slowly.
Sources
- CDC — What to Do After a Concussion
- CDC — Signs and Symptoms of Concussion
- CDC — Returning to School After a Concussion
- CDC — Returning to Sports
- AAP — Concussions in Children & Teens: What Parents Need to Know
Written for Pedemy in our own words from the sources above; checked October 2026. For education only, not medical advice. Pedemy is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the organizations cited.