The best method to explain a procedure to a hospitalized preschool-age child is to

Hospitalization, and medical procedures can be very stressful for children of all ages. Preparing children ahead of time for the things they may experience in the hospital will reduce much of their anxiety and will help them cope and trust you and the people they meet in the hospital.

Tips for preparing your child at any age

• If your child is under the age of 5, you should talk to him or her a day or two before the experience. Older children should have a few days to a week to get information and ask questions.
• Be honest. If you do not know the answer, tell your child you do not know, but you will find out.
• Use words your child will understand.
• Encourage your child to discuss feelings and ask questions about the upcoming experience.
• Be careful not to force a discussion if your child does not seem ready.
• Have your child pack a suitcase with the things he or she wants in the hospital. Your child may be able to wear his or her own pajamas to sleep in. Some areas may require a child to wear hospital pajamas.
• Ask about any tours or preparation programs such as day surgery tours the Hospital may provide.

It is not uncommon to see changes in your child's behavior before, during or after hospitalization. Children’s responses to hospitalization and medical procedures will differ, depending on their age, the procedures they are having done and their past experiences.

Child life staff offer age-appropriate preparation for medical procedures

Child life staff are available in all inpatient and most outpatient areas to prepare your child prior to a medical procedure. Staff use age-appropriate language and teaching materials, including dolls, photo books and real medical equipment. Contact your child life specialist, or call 215-590-2001, for more information about having your child prepared by a child life specialist.

Day surgery tours

Child life staff offer pre-operative preparation prior to your child's day surgery experience. Day surgery tours include age-appropriate education and a tour of the surgical areas. To schedule a tour for your child, please contact the day surgery child life specialist at 215-590-3836.

Tips for preparing  your child by age

Infant

• Bring your child's favorite toy, blanket or stuffed animal.
• Prepare yourself — if you are prepared, you will be more relaxed around your infant.
• Bring music that helps relax your baby.
• Keep routines as normal as possible.

Toddler

• Talk with your toddler one to two days before his or her healthcare experience.
• Use simple words that your child will understand.
• Reassure your child that you will be with him or her whenever possible.
• Allow your child to choose his or her favorite things to bring to the hospital.
• Read books about going to the hospital.
• Encourage your child to use play medical kits and dolls to act out his or her understanding of the experience.

Preschool

• Talk with your preschooler three to four days before his or her healthcare experience.
• Use simple words without too many details.
• Help your preschooler understand that he or she did not do anything to cause the hospitalization, procedure or surgery.
• Encourage your preschooler to talk about his or her feelings.
• Give your preschooler the opportunity to ask questions.
• Read books with pictures of medical equipment.
• Use play medical kits to allow expression of feelings.

School-age

• Prepare your school-age child one to two weeks ahead of time.
• Let your child know that you will answer any of his or her questions.
• Talk about your child's fears and questions openly and honestly.
• Help your child understand exactly why he or she needs a certain procedure or to be hospitalized.
• Allow your child to pack his own suitcase.

Adolescent

• Include your adolescent in any discussions and decisions about his or her healthcare experience.
• Encourage your adolescent to ask questions about hospital care, procedures and schedules.
• Allow and support your adolescent's privacy.

Contact us

The Child Life staff is available to help answer any questions you may have about helping your child prepare for hospitalization or surgery. Please call 215-590-2001 or e-mail for more information.

Hospitals can be a confusing place for a child. Preparing children ahead of time for the things they may experience in the hospital will reduce much of their anxiety. It will also help them cope and trust you and the people they meet in the hospital.

Since it's inception in 1968, Chase Child Life Program has been a pioneer, and a national model for how to appropriately address the social, emotional and developmental needs of each child and his/her family. Child Life Specialists recognize developmental issues related to illness, support coping strategies to reduce fears, and concerns through education, behavior management, and adaptive role play. Child Life Specialists are available to prepare your child prior to a medical procedure. For more information on having your child prepared by a Child Life Specialist, contact Chase Child Life Program, 310-267-9440, [email protected].

TIPS FOR PREPARING A CHILD AT ANY AGE

• For younger children (under the age of 5), talk to him or her a day or two before the experience. Older children should have a few days to a week to get information and ask questions.

• Be careful not to force a discussion if your child does not seem ready.

• Be honest. If you do not know the answer, tell your child you do not know, but you will find out.

• Use words the child will understand.

• Encourage the child to discuss feelings and ask questions about the upcoming experience.

• Have your child pack a suitcase with the things he or she wants in the hospital. Some children may be able to wear their own pajamas to sleep in, but depending on the medical situation, some children may be required to wear hospital pajamas.

• Ask about pre-hospital preparations provided by Chase Child Life Program.

• It is not uncommon to see changes in a child's behavior before, during or after hospitalization. Children's responses to hospitalization and medical procedures will differ, depending on their age, the procedures to be done, and their past experiences.

PREPARATION FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS

• First prepare yourself:
  • Understand your own feelings and perceptions about the hospitalization.
  • Don't be afraid to ask for help. Identify who can help you or who are your support systems.
• Gather information before speaking with your child:
  • Talk about your feelings together with your child
  • Provide honest information
  • Get the answers to your questions. Encourage your child to ask questions
  • Learn about tests, procedures and treatment planned for your child
  • Talk with the doctor about the plan for treatment
• How to talk to your child:
  • You know your child the best
  • Talk openly and honestly with your child
  • Answer your child's questions with the following in mind:
    
    • Age and developmental stage
    • Personality
    • Past experiences with medical encounters
    • Understanding of the illness

TIPS FOR PREPARING SIBLINGS

• Possible Issues for Siblings:
  • Separation from caregivers and sibling(s)
  • Change in familiar routines
  • Feelings of guilt related to thoughts about their ill sibling
  • Fears or misconceptions regarding hospitalization
  • Decrease in attention from caregivers
• Possible Regressive Behaviors from Well Child:
  • Eating or talking less
  • Showing withdrawing behavior
  • Acting out in a way to get more attention
  • Giving outburst of storing up feelings
  • Returning to behaviors of an earlier age

TIPS FOR PREPARING INFANTS

• Possible Issues for Infants:
  • Change in routine
  • Diet restrictions
  • Change in sleep patterns
  • Mobility restrictions
  • Separation from caregivers
  • Unfamiliar environment and people
  • Possible interruption of typical development (e.g., learning to sit up, crawl, stand)
• How to help Infants:
  • Bring familiar items from home (e.g. blankets, stuffed animals, pacifiers, soothing music, pictures)
  • Create a plan for consistent caregivers
  • Keep routines as normal as possible

TIPS FOR PREPARING TODDLERS

• Possible Issues for Toddlers:
  • Change in routine
  • Diet restrictions
  • Change in sleep patterns
  • Mobility restrictions
  • Separation from caregivers
  • Unfamiliar environment and people
  • Possible interruption of typical development
    • Toilet training
    • Learning to talk and walk
• How to help Toddlers:
  • Wait until 1-2 days before admission to talk to your toddler (toddlers have difficulty understanding the concept of time and may begin to worry if told too soon)
    • Keep explanations and language simple
    • Reassure your child that you will be with him whenever possible
  • Bring familiar items from home (e.g., blankets, stuffed animals, sippy cups, music)
  • Allow your child to choose his/her favorite things to bring to the hospital (this will give the child a sense of control)
  • Be patient with your toddler (it is not uncommon for young children to regress and become fussy or clingy)
  • Try to provide comfort and support while remaining consistent with your approaches to discipline
  • Provide your child an opportunity to participate in healthcare play (e.g., "doctor's kit)
  • Read books about going to the hospital

TIPS FOR PREPARING PRESCHOOLERS

• Possible Issues for Preschoolers:
  • Change in routine
  • Diet restrictions
  • Change in sleep patterns
  • Mobility restrictions
  • Separation from caregivers
  • Unfamiliar environment and people
• How to help Preschoolers:
  • Talk to your preschooler 3-5 days before hospital stay (it is important to give them enough time to process the information, but not too much time to allow for misconceptions to develop)
  • Use simple terms and concrete explanations without too many details
  • Use words for body parts, and functions that are familiar to your child
  • Talk to your child openly and honestly (young children are more likely to maintain a trusting relationship if they feel included in the experience)
  • Give your child an opportunity to ask questions and clarify misconceptions
  • Encourage your child to talk about their feelings
  • Reassure your child that he/she did not do anything to cause the hospitalization, procedure or surgery (he/she did not do anything wrong)
  • Let your child help choose familiar favorite items from home (e.g., blankets, stuffed animals, music, toys, books, DVDs)
  • Create a plan for consistent caregivers
  • Provide your child an opportunity to participate in healthcare play (e.g. play with a "doctor's kit")
  • Read books about going to the hospital (e.g. books with pictures of medical equipment)

TIPS FOR PREPARING SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN

• Possible Issues for School-Age Children:
  • Change in routine
  • Diet restrictions
  • Change in sleep patterns
  • Mobility restrictions
  • Time away from school
  • Time away from sports and activities
  • Separation from peers and caregivers
  • Unfamiliar environment and people
  • Feeling homesick
  • Loss of independence
• How to Help Your School-Age Child:
  • Talk to your school-age child 1-2 weeks prior to hospitalization (it is important to give them enough time to process the information, but not too much time to allow for misconceptions to develop)
  • Talk to your child openly, honestly and in simple terms (children at this age are more likely to maintain a trusting relationship if they feel included in the experience and part of the decision making process)
  • Have an understanding about anesthesia, pain, change in appearance, etc., to prepare for questions your child may have.
  • Explain to your child why the procedure, surgery, or hospitalization is necessary. Discuss fears or concerns.
  • Provide an opportunity to ask questions and express how he/she is feeling (e.g., what questions do you have about the hospital? What are you wondering about with your procedure?)
  • Talk with your child about ways to share his upcoming hospital stay with friends
  • Talk with your child's teacher to develop a plan for making up missed assignments (a school teacher is available for patients hospitalized longer than 10 days)
  • Encourage your child to focus on the long-term benefits of the surgery, procedure or hospitalization. Focus on the positive.
  • Encourage him or her to help with packing his or her favorite belongings, be sure his or her favorite items are included (e.g., favorite blanket, pillow, slippers, toys, books, music, handheld electronic games, laptop)
  • Create a plan for consistent caregivers (make a schedule of who can be at the hospital at different periods of time)
  • Provide your child an opportunity to participate in health care - through asking questions and being included in basic discussions

TIPS FOR PREPARING ADOLESCENTS

• Possible Issues for Adolescents:
  • Change in routine
  • Diet restrictions
  • Change in sleep patterns
  • Mobility restrictions
  • Time away from school
  • Time away from sports and activities
  • Separation from peers and caregivers
  • Unfamiliar environment and people
  • Feeling homesick
  • Loss of independence
  • Loss of privacy
• How to Help Your Adolescent:
  • Talk to your adolescent as soon as you plan for admission (it is important to give them enough time to process the information, but not too much time to allow for misconceptions to develop)
  • Talk to your child openly, honestly. Teens are more likely to maintain a trusting relationship if they feel included in the experience and part of the decision making process.
  • Establish open communication so the adolescent may ask questions about a procedure or hospitalization
  • Talk with him/her about ways to share her upcoming hospital stay with peers
  • Encourage him/her to help with packing their belongings to be sure his favorite items are included (e.g., pillow, slippers, books, music, games, laptop)
  • Create a plan for consistent caregivers (make a schedule of who can be at the hospital at different periods of time)
  • Communicate with your adolescent's teachers about ways to keep up with school work (school teachers are available if your child's expected length of stay is greater than 10 days)
  • Provide her an opportunity to participate in health care - encourage her to ask questions and take part in decision making.
  • Plan ways for her to keep in touch with peers.

Since it's inception in 1968, Chase Child Life Program has been a pioneer, and a national model for how to appropriately address the social, emotional and developmental needs of each child and his/her family. Child Life Specialists recognize developmental issues related to illness, support coping strategies to reduce fears, and concerns through education, behavior management, and adaptive role play. Child Life Specialists are available to prepare your child prior to a medical procedure. For more information on having your child prepared by a Child Life Specialist, contact Chase Child Life Program, 310-267-9440, [email protected].