- Prepare yourself. Talk with health care professions, so
you understand your child’s upcoming health care experience.
- Talk to your child about their upcoming visit to the hospital.
- Encourage your child to ask questions.
- Listen to your child’s concerns.
- Keep in mind your child’s previous hospital experience
(both positive and negative).
- Avoid using words with multiple meanings (dye, shots,
flush, gas).
- Be
honest, talk about how long it may take, and what senses
may be involved (smell, taste, sounds, sight, touch).
- Talk about ways to help your child cope during a procedure
(ie singing, hugging, counting, reading a book together,
blowing bubbles, playing with a toy).
 Read books about the hospital experience.
- Reassure
your child that members of the health care team will support
them during procedure.
- Use language your child will understand.
- If you can, reassure your child that you will stay with
them.
- Plan a special celebration when your child returns home.
| Book (description) |
Author |
| A Trip to the Hospital (broken arm/Xray/cast) |
Kim Watson |
| Blue Berry Eyes (eye treatment) |
Monica Driscoll Beatty |
| Caillou A Visit To the Doctor (doctor’s visit) |
Chouette |
| Clifford Visits The Hospital (general hospital |
Norman Bridwell |
| Cordoroy Goes To The Doctor (doctor’s visit) |
Freeman/McCue |
| Curious George Goes to the Hospital (hospital/Xray/O.R) |
Margret& H.Rey |
| Franklin Goes to the Hospital (admission/Xray/O.R) |
Bourgeois & Clark |
| Going to the Hospital (hospital/blood work/playroom) |
Fred Rogers |
| Jenny in the Hospital (hospital stay/cast) |
Seymour Reit |
| Let's Talk About Hospital (hospital stay) |
Johnston |
| Midnight Hsopital (hospital stay for school-age) |
Morgan/Martchenko |
| My Doctor My Friend (doctor’s visit) |
Hallinan |
| Phil and Lil Go to the Doctor (doctor’s visit) |
Spotlight/Nickelodeon |
| Sonja Lee Visits the Doctor (doctor’s visit) |
Carol Monica |
| Tom and Ally Visits the Doctor (doctor’s visit)
|
Beth Robins |
| The Berenstain Bears Go To The Doctor (doctor’s
visit) |
Berenstain |
| This is a Hospital not a Zoo (hospital stay for school-age) |
Roberta Karim |
|
|
