A nurse is caring for a child who has terminal cancer. Which of the following responses by the child's school-age brother should the nurse expect?

It is common for school-age children to exhibit magical thinking and believe that their actions or thoughts have the power to cause events, including the illness or death of a loved one. Therefore, it would be expected for the school-age brother of a child with terminal cancer to have thoughts or beliefs that his own behavior is causing his brother's death. It is important for the nurse to provide age-appropriate education and support to help the brother understand the nature of the illness and address any misconceptions or feelings of guilt.