Medical Health Encyclopedia

School age test or procedure preparation

PLAY PREPARATION:

Play and third-person communication can be wonderful in revealing ways of demonstrating the procedure for your child, and identifying concerns.

For younger school age children, this technique is appropriate. Older school age children might view this approach as childish. Consider the intellectual needs of your child before using this type of communication.

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Older children may benefit from films that show children of the same age explaining, demonstrating, and undergoing the same procedure. Ask your health care provider if such films are available for your child's viewing.

The play technique should be tailored to each child, and most health care facilities that are oriented towards children (such as a children's hospital) will use a similar technique to prepare your child. This type of communication may take some practice.

Children, when asked direct questions about their feelings, are often avoidant and elusive. Of course, some children are happy to share their feelings with you, but as anxiety and fear increase, it is not uncommon for a child to withdraw.

Most young children have an object or toy of importance that may be a tool for a type of interaction called third-party communication.

It may be less threatening for your child to communicate concerns through the toy or object than to express them directly. For example, imagine a fearful 7-year-old girl -- about to have her blood drawn -- holding her well-loved doll. Such a child might be able to understand if you discussed how the doll might might "feel" during the test.

Toys or dolls might help you explain the procedure. Young school age children are still concrete thinkers -- they take everything literally, without making deductions or generalizations.

Once you are familiar with the procedure, demonstrate on the object what your child will experience. For example, show positioning, bandages, stethoscopes, and cleaning the skin.