Patient Resources - Tips for Supporting Your Child
Texas Children's Child Life Department knows that caring for a child while he or she is in the hospital can be a challenging and emotional time for a parent. By educating yourself about the issues your child may face in the hospital, you'll be better equipped to help him or her cope with any matters that may arise.
Resource for Your Child
The Child Life Department created an activity book to introduce your child to the different medical staff and help explain experiences he or she may have while in the hospital. By working through these activities together, we hope you and your child will begin to feel more comfortable with the hospital setting. Please print the activity book for you and your child to work on together before or during your hospital visit.
Answer your child's questions clearly and avoid making promises about aspects of your child's care that may be unknown. (i.e. "I promise they won't give you any shots," or "We won't have to spend the night”) Misinformation can affect a child’s trust which impacts their overall hospitalization and future medical experiences.
Supporting your child
As a parent you know your child best, which is why we encourage you to be present during medical procedures. We understand that the hospital setting can be stressful for you and your child. Parental anxiety can impact anxiety in children of all ages. If you are unable to provide emotional support during a medical procedure, due to stress or anxiety, we recommend you step out of the room and a plan will be put into place to ensure continued support for your child.
Bring familiar items from home
Because hospitals are an unfamiliar environment for most children, patients of all ages benefit from having familiar items from home. For younger children, these may include favorite toys, stuffed animals, pajamas, pacifiers and other comfort items. For older children and adolescents, favorite items may include video games, movies, books or music. Patients of all ages can also benefit from having pictures of family members, pets or friends placed at bedside.
Know what is normal
The stressors of hospitalization often cause patients to regress and exhibit behaviors they have previously "outgrown". It is normal for a child to exhibit regressive behavior while hospitalized, so it is important that caregivers continue the regular support that is provided at home.
Medical play allows your child to use medical supplies to increase their familiarity and comfort with supplies, provide them with a sense of control, assist with their understanding and enhance coping. The link above guides caregivers in facilitating medical play with their child.
Medical terminology can be misleading for preschoolers. Be sure to use clear terms when describing tests and procedures. For example: say "CT" instead of "CAT scan" so children do not anticipate seeing a room full of cats during their test.
Preschoolers think in concrete terms, so showing them the actual medical equipment they will encounter may be beneficial. Child life specialists can help children manipulate the equipment for better understanding.
Avoid asking patients if they are ready for something to happen ("Are you ready to take your medicine?") unless you know that the time frames are flexible. Instead, offer a choice that they can make (“It’s time to take your medicine. Would you like to take a sip of water or juice after?”.
Assign your child a "job" during treatment to give him or her a feeling of control. For example, “your job is to hold your arm still like a statue when they take your blood”.
Preschool patients often view illness and medical procedures as punishment. Reassure your child that everything the medical staff does is to make him or her feel better and is not done because of anything he or she may have done “wrong.”
Maintain a normal routine as much as possible and allow plenty of opportunity for your child to play and express himself creatively.
School age patients are able to understand their illness or injury and recognize symptoms. They can also reason and understand more abstract concepts, such as time and cause and effect. Diagnosis and treatment information should be given in relation to the symptoms they are experiencing. For example, a school age child with appendicitis is able to understand the link between the need for surgery and his abdominal pain going away.
Involve your child in discussions related to their care as much as possible. In most cases, the more a patient's understanding increases, the more compliant they will be with procedures. Encourage them to ask questions of you and the medical staff rather than withholding information.
School age children develop their own body image. Respect your child's desire for privacy when possible and encourage hospital staff to do the same.
Peer groups are important to patients of this age. Encourage phone calls, cards and/or visits from friends, and persuade them to visit The Child Life Zone so that they can interact with other patient's their age.
Adolescents are able to understand their condition and treatment and should be involved in discussions about the diagnosis and plan of care. Encourage them to ask questions, and arrange a private discussion for your teen and the medical team, allowing him to speak more freely and receive more accurate information.
Respect your teenager's sense of privacy. Teenagers tend to internalize more questions and concerns than younger children in an attempt to work problems out themselves.
Teen’s concerns about body image are magnified during hospitalization. Their fears of bodily changes and being "different" are heightened. Make sure your teen understands the exact nature of the procedures and what kind of changes, if any, may be expected.
Socialization is important for teenagers. Hospitalized teens often feel like they are "missing out" on things while they are admitted so give them opportunities to talk to friends and share their hospital experiences. Encourage friends to call and visit the hospital so the patient can be involved in normal teenage experiences. Also encourage the patient to visit theChild Life Zone in order to meet and interact with others their age.
Things to Do and Resources
16 West Tower
West Tower Laundry Room
Free washers & dryers.
Soap is $.50 / box or available from Guest Services.
School Services & School Room
Contact a child life staff member for more information
To learn more about events occurring in Kids’ Own Studio and ZTV19, follow us on Twitter @CLZoneHOU or if you have questions regarding the Kids’ Own Studio and Programming, please email kidsownstudio@texaschildrens.org.
