How to be more than just present?
Medical care can be a source of anxiety for your child and for you. As a parent, you are your child’s best ally during these moments.
Obviously, you can always discuss with your child’s doctor the best way to help your child in a particular situation, but here are some practical tips inspired by other parents to help you make the medical care experience more positive for your child.
Choose Your Words Carefully
Words have an immense power over your child’s mindset. Avoid terms that can frighten like “injection”, “it doesn’t hurt” or “pain”. Prefer gentler expressions like “feeling a touch” or “pressure sensation”. Focus attention on the treatment’s objective by highlighting “We’re going to help you understand how to take care of you” rather than the method with “We’re going to do a blood test”.
Be Their Spokesperson
You know your child better than anyone. Don’t hesitate to communicate their preferences, fears, or past experiences to the healthcare team. If your child has a favorite stuffed animal that reassures them, mention it. If certain techniques worked well during previous care, share this information.
Prepare a Plan Together
Involve your child in preparing for the care. Discuss with them what will happen, step by step. You can even do a small role-play at home. Let them choose a reward for afterward (we happily suggest a reward in the form of an activity or a special moment with you rather than a material reward), this will give them something positive to look forward to.
Offer Comfort During Care
Your presence is reassuring for your child. Hold their hand, speak softly, or distract them with a story or a song. If medical staff allows and you think it might help, you can even show them a video on your phone during the care.
Follow Your Child’s Pace
Each child has their own way of managing stress. Some prefer to watch what’s happening, others prefer to focus on something else. Observe your child and follow their indications. Don’t impose your own stress management techniques if they don’t suit them.
Validate Their Emotions
It’s normal for your child to feel fear, anger, or sadness. Recognize these emotions without minimizing them. You can say: “I see that you’re scared, that’s normal. I’m here with you.” This validation will help them feel understood and supported.
Debrief After Care
Once the care is finished, take time to talk about it with your child. Congratulate them for their courage, even if things were difficult. Ask them what they found helpful and what could be improved next time. This will help them develop coping skills and feel more confident for future medical visits.
Additional Tips:
- Create a Distraction Toolkit: Prepare a small bag with items that can distract your child during care (book, toy, headphones to listen to music, etc.).
- Use Breathing Techniques: Teach your child simple breathing exercises they can use to calm down.
- Celebrate Small Victories: After each care, even minor, celebrate your child’s courage. This can be with a sticker, a special activity, or simply encouraging words.
Remember, your calm and confidence are contagious. By staying positive and using these techniques, you can greatly improve your child’s medical care experience. Each visit then becomes an opportunity to strengthen their resilience and courage. Tthe medical team is there to support you in this approach.
Together, we can make every medical visit an experience that will help your child build and grow.
Helpful posters
Whether you’re looking for a quick reference to prepare for your visit or a professional wanting to share these resources with your patients, here is a poster available in multiple languages summarizing these preparation techniques!