Preparing Your Child for Medical Procedures 
and Visits to the Doctor
By Karen O'Neil, BS, CCLS, Quad Mom
Originally printed in May 2003

"Will it hurt?"  "Can Mommy/Daddy stay with me?"  "When can I see my friends 
again?"  These are all common questions children have when faced with hospitalization.  
Preparation is the key in making a visit to the doctor or hospital a successful one.  When 
children are told what to expect and are allowed to participate in planning for a medical 
event, their anxiety and stress level (and yours too!) decrease greatly.  Whether a child is 
going to the dentist or facing chemotherapy, knowing what will happen is a key factor for 
the patient and family.

Here are a few guidelines to follow while getting ready for your child's specific medical 
experience:

1.	Be prepared:  You'll be able to answer your child's questions more readily if 
you're comfortable with what is going to occur.
2.	Be honest:  Tell your child what to expect and who will be able to stay with 
him/her during the procedure.
3.	Be available:  Allow your child to express their emotions, whatever they might 
be.
4.	Be able to pretend:  Role play with your child.  You be the patient and let him be 
the doctor/nurse/parent.  Pay close attention to their body language and responses 
as they "care" for you.
5.	Be funny:  No matter how stressful the situation, take time to laugh about it.  It 
will be a good stress reliever.

Since the method of preparation depends on a child's age, the following suggestions are 
broken up into the following age groups: Toddlers/Preschoolers and School-
age/Adolescents.  Some of the suggestions may be appropriate for more than one age 
group and can be slightly adapted to accommodate younger or older children.

Toddlers/Preschoolers
?	Create a simple calendar the week of admission and count the days until discharge
?	Make a hospital survival bag with favorite snacks, stuffed animal, photos of 
family and friends, favorite games
Read age-appropriate books about going to the doctor/hospital.  Be  careful of  
certain  medical vocabulary that your child may not understand.  For example:  
"I.V." may be interpreted as "ivy".
?	Do "medical play" at home with pretend doctor kits.  Make a medical collage 
using band-aids, gauze pads, tongue depressors, etc.
?	Perform an exam/operation on their stuffed animal

School age/Adolescents
?	Give your child a journal, whether they write or draw, it will be a way for him/her 
to express his/her feelings
?	Make a memory board to hang in their hospital room
?	Find friends who have had similar experiences so your child can open up to 
someone his own age

Keep in mind that most pediatric hospitals are staffed with Child Life specialists who are 
available to aid you in preparing your child for their hospital experience.  The goal of the 
Child Life department is to decrease the patient and family's anxiety level before and 
during medical treatment.  Ask about playroom hours and activities. Some hospitals even 
have separate space for teens and young adults.