{"id":25195,"date":"2023-03-08T07:00:53","date_gmt":"2023-03-08T07:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=25195"},"modified":"2025-01-29T20:44:06","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T20:44:06","slug":"trips-to-the-doctor-can-be-scary-child-life-specialists-share-tips-to-ease-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/trips-to-the-doctor-can-be-scary-child-life-specialists-share-tips-to-ease-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"Trips to the doctor can be scary: Child life specialists share tips to ease anxiety","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Taking medicine, getting shots and seeing the doctor helps kids feel \u2014 and stay \u2014 better, but it\u2019s not typically an easy, fun or painless process. To avoid feeding into your child\u2019s fears, how can you help them with their anxiety about pain, discomfort or past experiences?<\/p>\n

Child life specialists<\/a>\u00a0at Mary Bridge Children\u2019s Hospital are experts at helping kids through medical appointments, procedures and not-so-happy times at the hospital. By using calming techniques, age-appropriate language, tools and distractions, these real-life superheroes can often help any patient through even the hardest of appointments and procedures.<\/p>\n

March is National Child Life Month, so we asked our team of certified child life specialists to share some tried-and-true tips for parents and caregivers to use with kids during routine appointments or when access to a child life specialist might not be available.<\/p>\n

Be <\/strong>h<\/strong>onest<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Your words matter. Kids engage in \u201cmagical thinking\u201d and can be easily confused by things they hear, even if it\u2019s not what you said. It\u2019s important to be honest with your child about what they will feel, see, hear or experience at their appointment.<\/p>\n

Use concrete and age-appropriate language and remember that you might need to repeat the information multiple times. Several helpful phrases for common procedures include:<\/p>\n

Procedure words and phrases to use<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Vaccine:<\/strong>\u00a0A quick poke; medicine through a small needle; feels like a pinch; only lasts for a few seconds<\/p>\n

Blood draw:<\/strong>\u00a0A check to see how your body is doing; checking to see what is making you feel sick; a quick poke; feels like a pinch<\/p>\n

Swab or culture:<\/strong>\u00a0Cotton or Q-tip that touches inside your nose or throat to check what is making you feel sick<\/p>\n

EKG:<\/strong>\u00a0Stickers that are put on your body and are connected to strings to check your heart<\/p>\n

Validate feelings and offer appropriate choices<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s normal to feel scared or anxious, and it\u2019s OK for kids to express how they feel. Instead of telling your child not to be scared or to be brave, tell them it\u2019s OK to be scared but that you will be with them, and their doctors are helping them to feel better.<\/p>\n

When possible, offer children appropriate choices. They can\u2019t choose if they\u2019re getting a shot, but they can choose if they\u2019d like it in their right or left arm (or leg). They can\u2019t choose if they need a cast, but they can choose the color of the cast.<\/p>\n

Practice at home<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the tools child life specialists use frequently in the hospital is pretend play. Using dolls or toy doctor\u2019s kits can help, especially with younger children.<\/p>\n

Practicing comfort positions \u2014 special ways adult caregivers can securely hold a child during a procedure \u2014 is also helpful to practice at home. Lying flat on the back is one of the most anxiety-provoking positions and lends the least amount of control, so comfort positions like back-to-chest or side sitting can be beneficial and provide additional calming for kids, whether they\u2019re receiving shots, getting their ears checked or having their vitals taken.<\/p>\n

Distraction helps<\/strong><\/h2>\n

At the appointment and when there is waiting involved, distraction can be a helpful way to help kids stay calm. Some favorite distraction tools child life specialists use include:<\/p>\n