|
» Choose
a Tour » Tour
for Kids » Frequently
Asked Questions
It is common for children of all ages to feel afraid about surgery.
Preparing your child for surgery will help your child be less
fearful. Here are some things you can do:
- Tell your child about
the surgery. Use simple words. In general, the younger your
child, the less you will need to say. A child’s fear
may be the result from a lack of information or misunderstanding.
Give your child the correct information in a way your child
can understand. Give the same information in the same words
each time you talk to your child.
- Use your child’s age to decide how far ahead
to tell your child about going to the surgery center. For
example, if your child is 4-years-old, tell your child about
going to the surgery center four days before surgery.
- Ask your child what he
or she thinks about going to the surgery center and having
surgery. This is a way to find out what types of things you
need to tell your child. You may also find out what things
your child is most fearful of.
- Be honest when you answer your child’s questions.
This will help your child trust you and the people he or
she will meet at the surgery center.
- When your child talks about
being afraid, help your child find ways to cope with fear.
For example, your child may cope with fear by holding your
hand, or holding on to a special toy or doll, or by counting
to ten, or even by singing a special song.
- Read a book to your child
about having surgery. There are many very good books to
use. A list of books that are good for both you and your child
are listed below:
Preschool Children (Ages 3-5 years)
- A Visit
to Sesame Street Hospital by D. Hautzig
- Going to the Hospital
by Fred Rogers
School-Age Children (Ages 6-12 years)
- A Hospital Story by Sara
Bonnet Stein
- The Hospital Book by James Howe
- Why Am I Going To The Hospital?
by Claire Ciliotta & Carole
Livingston
- Good-Bye Tonsils by Juliana Lee Hatkoff and Craig Hatkoff
Adolescents (Ages 13-19 years)
- For Teenagers: Your stay in the
Hospital by the Association for the Care of Children’s
Health
- The Teenage Hospital Experience: You can Handle It by
Elizabeth Richter
For Parents
All the following books have chapters on how to prepare a child
for a hospital stay and/or surgery.
- A Child In Pain: How to
Help, What to Do by Leora Kuttner
- Mr. Rogers Talks With Parents
by Fred Rogers
- Touchpoints by T. Berry Brazelton
Back to Top
|
