Although many studies explore the meaning of illness and symptoms to children who have chronic illnesses, few examine the meaning of health. An analysis of interviews with 71 children, aged 9-11 years, with mild to severe asthma revealed that the most common criterion they used to judge their healthiness was the ability to be active. Activity and other physical/functional abilities accounted for 46% of all responses. Other positive affective qualities, such as being happy or joyful, accounted for another 27%. The absence of asthma-specific symptoms accounted for only 9% and of general illness symptoms 5% of the total responses.