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Hospitals can seem overwhelming even for adults, so when a child has to visit the hospital, fear and nervousness may be magnified. Because children often process situations differently, they may have a hard time understanding that some place so strange can actually help them. The anticipation and unknown can make the situation seem even scarier. As parents, you can help make the best of a surgical procedure or hospital stay with a little extra preparation and care.
To help ease your child’s concerns, see if the hospital has a preadmission program for children. Many hospitals offer tours of the surgical area or inpatient facilities. Often, children can see the medical equipment and ask questions about their upcoming procedures. Hospital personnel will give age-appropriate responses designed to ease your child’s stress.
As the day of the procedure gets closer, your child will probably have lots of questions and concerns. Carefully choose your words as you address their fears, avoiding any words or phrases that could have a negative connotation. For example, you may want to talk about anesthesia as special medicine that makes you sleepy instead of referring to the process of being “put to sleep.” Listen as the doctor or nurse explains shots and other procedures so you can mimic that language at home. In preparation for the actual hospital visit, pack familiar books, toys, or comfort items that your child can take along.
Throughout the process, encourage your child to express his or her feelings, offering encouragement and support. Give your child permission to express his or her feelings, which may include crying. If you don’t know the answer to a question, be honest with your child and resist the temptation to promise something that may turn out later not to be true. For parents with other children, remember that your child’s siblings may also feel concerned, so try to offer them explanations and reassurances as well.
