Suggested books for parents to read with their child before a scheduled operation:
Preparing Your Child for Surgery
Coming to the hospital can be a scary time for children and parents alike. One of the hardest things for children to understand is that something that hurts or feels strange is actually helping them. Anticipation and not knowing can make it worse. With some preparation, the hospital stay may be made much easier—for both child and family.
Parents can be helpful by being careful about the words they use to describe hospital procedures. For example, instead of saying "put to sleep" when talking about anesthesia, you can talk about receiving a special sleeping medicine. If you are unsure about what may happen, it's better to say that you don't know instead of promising a child something that later turns out to be false.
If you have other children, be sure to explain, as best you can, what will be happening. Hospitalization affects the whole family, so be prepared for concern on the part of siblings.
Parents should also:
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Encourage your child to express feelings, fears and fantasies. Let your child know it is okay to cry.
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Listen to your child's questions and answer the questions honestly.
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Pack familiar books, toys and clothes your child can take to the hospital.
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Visit the hospital ahead of time through a scheduled preoperative visit.
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Obviously, how much your child understands, and what kind of information you give them, will depend on age and maturity.
Other Resources
For more information about how to prepare your child for surgery visit KidsHealth.org.
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