Supporting Children to Come to Hospital
How to talk to your child
Remember it’s normal for your child to feel worried about coming into hospital. There is a lot you can do at home to help prepare them. We hope the information below is helpful and practical.
- Be honest! – It’s important for your child to trust you. If it’s going to hurt, tell them the truth.
- Give basic information. You don’t need to go into too much detail. If you give them too much information you might make them feel more anxious. Think about your child’s age & stage of development.
- Be careful of the language you use. Use basic language so your child can understand what you are saying.
- Let your child ask questions. If you don’t know the answer, be honest and tell them you’re not sure but you will find out.
How to use play to help them prepare
Use a doll or teddy and a toy nurses or doctors set to play out what will happen when they come to hospital. Get your child involved and get them to role play on you or their brothers or sisters. They might want to role play on themselves or let you role play on them. Even if it’s on their hand, it’s a start!
Things to try
- Doctor’s sets are great for role play and help your child to understand what is to be expected when they visit and why they need to have a test done
- Use a toy stethoscope to listen to their chest
- Use an empty roll-on deodorant bottle and some body wash on the dolls chest to play having a heart scan
- Story books are a great way to prepare your child for what to expect. If your child is anxious, you can read the story to them and get your child to play out the story in the book on their doll or teddy
- Older children and young people will need more information – there are information booklets available for families to use with teenagers
- There are APP’s or websites that you might find helpful to prepare for tests like MRI scans, blood tests and so on. Watch them yourself before you show your child to make sure they are appropriate and won’t scare them.
Other Ways to Support Children Coming to Hospital
Using photographs
Photographs can help explain what will happen during a hospital visit. You can use photos you’ve taken during past visits or find some online. Show the pictures and talk about what will happen. For example, explain if they need to lie flat, stay still, or if they can watch their favourite show on an iPad during the test.
You can make a photobook with pictures taken during your child’s hospital visits. This could be for an outpatient appointment or when they stay in the hospital. It’s also helpful to take photos before surgery or a procedure. You can use these photos the next time they go to the hospital, so they know they’ve been there before. It can also help them understand what happened after an event like surgery.
After a hospital visit, your child can help put the photos into a scrapbook. This gives you a chance to talk about what happened and answer any questions they might have.
Resources
- ‘Molly’s dolly’ https://chfed.org.uk/how-we-help/mollys-dolly/
These are special dolls to talk to your child about their scar/s, You can use the doll to direct it too, if it’s all too much for your child
- Story books – are a great way to chat about operations, procedures or scars etc.
- Videos and/or TV programmes.
On the day your child is coming to hospital
Here are some tips that may help.
Allow your child to make some choices. It’s important to give them choices as during a visit or admission we take a lot of the control away so this will help empower your child.
- Let them decide what distraction technique would they like to do during their test. Make sure it’s something suitable and something they like.
- Favourite doll or teddy
- iPad
- Fidget toy
- Where’s Wally book
- Breathing / Relaxation techniques (APPS)
- Tell your child it’s ok to be anxious or upset. Give them permission to cry if they want to.
- Praise them for each step they achieve. Even if they don’t get to the final step e.g. getting their bloods done. It’s important to praise them for what they did do e.g., going into the treatment room, sitting on the treatment bed, letting the doctor look at their veins.
- Remember to reward them. You might want to tell them what the reward is going to be – so they have something to work towards. A reward doesn’t have to be expensive. It could be a visit to the hospital café or shop, a fidget toy, more time on iPad or a trip to the local park.
- Have a small bag of rewards that you can wrap up so they can pick something after having a procedure or at the end of the day. The rewards don’t have to be expensive it could be some items from your local pound shop.
Remember it’s normal for your child to feel worried about coming into the hospital. If you feel that your child is very anxious and needs more preparation you can speak to your child’s consultant or nurse specialist. They can refer you to a Health Play Specialist who can help provide specialist support.
All about Play in Hospital
Play is provided by either a play assistant or a health play specialist
Play Assistant
A play assistant is someone who is able to use play activities that are designed for children according to their age and stage of development. They will be able to provide this in designated areas called ‘play areas’ and at the bedside.
Play Specialist
A play specialist is someone who will use play to prepare and distract children during medical procedures and treatments. Play can help break down barriers and build relationships. Children are more likely to accept medical procedures if they feel safe. This type of play helps to encourage normality in an otherwise strange and frightening environment. A play specialist will structure, supervise, and facilitate activities whilst making hospital play FUN!
Here’s how they can help:
- Provide play: They offer play activities to help children understand and cope with what is happening in the hospital.
- Prepare for procedures: They help children get ready for things like blood tests or other medical procedures.
- Prepare for tests: They can explain and help children prepare for tests like X-rays or scans.
- Prepare for surgery: They support children in getting ready for an operation or any medical procedure.
- Distraction therapy: They use fun activities to distract children and help them feel calmer during treatments or tests.
- Talk about health: They can talk to children and young people about their heart condition, helping them understand what is happening.
- Advocacy: They speak up for children and young people, making sure their needs and feelings are heard.
Types of Play in Hospital
Play can be used to help children get ready for their treatment, procedures, or hospital stays, including having an operation. The health play specialist uses play in different ways to explain what will happen. This helps children understand what to expect when they come to the hospital, making them feel more prepared and less worried.
What is distraction therapy?
Distraction therapy helps take a child’s mind off a procedure or treatment. A health play specialist will use different activities to help distract your child during the procedure. Some children may want to watch what’s happening, while others may prefer not to. The play specialist will get to know your child and understand what they need. When your child trusts the play specialist, it can help reduce their anxiety during the procedure.
Types of distraction therapy include:
Look and find books (e.g., Where’s Wally?)
Fidget toys / stress balls
Bubbles
iPad
Projectors
Conversation
Relaxation techniques
Breathing exercises
Useful Links and extra resources
There are lots of resources including books, video’s and online material that have been written to help children understand and cope with coming into hospital. Here a selection to choose from. Please remember to watch the videos and programmes first to check if they are appropriate for your child or young person.
- Molly’s Dolly
Parents often find it very difficult to explain heart surgery and the resulting scars to very young children.
The Children’s Heart Federation have come up with the idea of using Molly’s Dollies, a rag doll with surgical scars, to help explain scarring to children with heart conditions. These dolls can be used to gently introduce the idea of operations and scars to your child.
- Sky the Expert Story Book
This book is available to purchase on the Children’s Heart Federation website suitable for primary school children from aged 6 upwards. The book follows a day in the life of Sky, a little boy with a heart condition who is awaiting further surgery, covering topics such as, dental hygiene, keeping warm, exercise, hospital visits and being brave.
- Rosie goes Red, Violet goes Blue
Preparing for a heart operation
This book is available to buy from the Children’s Hear Federation website. It is the story of a little child having a heart operation. It is suitable for young children and brothers and sisters
- Sammy’s Heart Operation
Sammy’s heart operation book is available on the British Heart Foundation website. It also available as a video and is for 7 to 11-year-olds who are having a heart operation. It is designed to be used with a play specialist in a therapy session or at home with the family. The book tells the story of Sammy and his experience from pre op to after surgery. The book helps the reader understand the people they will meet in hospital, the tests they will have, what will happen on the wards and when they can go home.
- Secret Little Superheroes
This short story and colouring book is aimed at young children about to undergo open heart surgery for a congenital heart defect. The story uses reassuring, child-friendly language to explain that the child’s heart needs mending and what can be expected during the hospital stay. The story explains that children whose hearts are poorly have superhero powers of strength and bravery, and after their heart is mended they will have an everlasting badge on their chest as proof of their superpowers. It includes illustrations at the end for children to colour, to reinforce the message and reassure the child.
- Henry has Heart Surgery
This book follows a young boy on his journey through a major medical procedure. Starting from the moment his parents explain he is having surgery, all the way through to his hospital stay and the trip back home. This story allows your child to understand the process he or she may be going through soon. Your child will be introduced to different members of the hospital staff and types of medical equipment in an easy-to-understand way. By using his imagination and the power to choose, Henry overcomes fears and anxieties about his operation. “Henry Has Heart Surgery” encourages your child to be a part of the story and opens the door to conversation about your own child’s upcoming procedure.
- Jessica has a Heart Operation
This is a lovely book that tells the story of Jessica who needs a heart operation. It is an on line book that you click through to flip through the pages. It uses lovely simple pictures and simple language to explain what is happening.
It is produced by the charity Little Hearts Matter
- Jack has a Heart Operation
This is a lovely book that tells the story of Jack who needs a heart operation. It is an on line book that you click through to flip through the pages. It uses lovely simple pictures and simple language to explain what is happening.
It is produced by the charity Little Hearts Matter
- Zip Line
Zip-line is a book for children that have a scar on their chest from open heart surgery to repair a congenital heart defect (CHD). Used by families, schools and hospitals, Zip-line explains the answer to the question “How did that line get there?”.
The story centers around a little girl and her bunny rabbit explaining to the reader how she got the scar on her chest and how she isn’t any different than anyone else.
- My Wonder Line
My Wonder Line is a story of a little girl who notices she has a scar one day, between her belly and chin. She wants to know if everybody has one and meets some friends along the way to talk to about it…some have surprises for her.
11.The abilities in me – congenital heart disease
Explore the day in the life of a little girl with congenital heart disease through bright, colourful illustrations and text. Perfect for teachers, parents and children alike, this book will bring awareness of the condition and teach children how to be supportive and be kind. This picture book is aimed for children between the ages of 3-8 years. It can help to talk to your child about their heart problem or help them prepare for having a blood test
- How Your Body Works
A great book for you to talk about your child’s heart and veins and arteries if they are going to have a blood test
- Something Special, Mr Tumble – video
Mr Tumble has episodes about visiting hospital or going to see your GP. They are designed for young children but are great fun!
- Get Well Soon
BBCi Player has a series of videos called Get well soon that include information about:
Operation Ouch
The CBBC programme available on iPlayer has many episodes explaining fun facts about the body and how it works
Apps:
Hospichill
has lots of relaxation skills and coping strategies for you child/young person to use for a hospital visit.
AlderPlay
Help your child see what Alder Hey Hospital is like and some of the procedures that your child may have. Fun and interactive APP
Hospitals
Alder Hey Childrens Hospital
Manchester Royal Infirmary
