Claire Dawson
Hospital anxiety in children is a common issue that can be caused by fear of the unknown, previous negative experiences, or a sense of helplessness and lack of control. This can lead to psychological trauma and emotional responses such as anxiety, aggression, and anger, which may delay important medical treatment. To calm hospital anxiety in children, it is essential to recognize the signs of anxiety, remain calm and positive as a parent or caregiver, and employ various techniques such as play and distraction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Distraction techniques | Asking children about their interests, such as school, TV shows, pets, and friends, engaging them in games, and using play interventions |
| Reassurance | Reminding the child that you are present and focused through a gentle touch, and praising their accomplishments |
| Communication | Using age-appropriate language, providing information about what to expect, and encouraging the child to share their feelings |
| Comfort | Practicing comfort positions in which the child can be securely held during a procedure, and playing soft, relaxing music |
| Recognizing anxiety | Identifying behavioral changes and physical and emotional symptoms associated with anxiety |
| Reducing anxiety | Providing choices to foster a sense of personal power, acknowledging the child by name, and normalizing common fears |
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What You'll Learn
Distract with games and play
Play and recreation are a natural part of childhood and vital to normal development. Playing games in a hospital setting can help children cope with anxiety, express themselves, and learn to adapt to the healthcare experience. Play therapy has been shown to improve children's behaviour and attitude, reduce anxiety, and decrease postoperative pain.
Play specialists select appropriate play activities based on the child's age, diagnosis, and physical condition. For younger children, play specialists may use puppets and toy blocks to provide a sensory experience. Older children may be offered word and board games that are more cognitively demanding. Play activities can also be tailored to the patient's history, previous negative experiences, and age. For example, children could play with dolls or teddy bears before surgery to demonstrate the procedure and reduce anxiety.
Children can also be encouraged to bring their own familiar toys and objects, such as blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, and dolls. Board games like Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, and Memory can be played with other children on the ward, helping them to socialise and feel less lonely.
Play can also be used to help children learn about and become familiar with medical procedures, reducing their fear and helping them adapt. For example, children might play with masks, nursing uniforms, syringes, and stethoscopes, or paint and sketch if they are confined to bed.
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Reassure with touch and talk
Reassuring your child through touch and talk is a powerful way to calm their hospital anxiety. Here are some strategies to achieve this:
Touch
Holding hands with your child is a simple yet effective way to provide reassurance and comfort. This physical connection reminds your child that you are present and fully focused on them, making their fears less daunting. Practicing comfort positions at home can also help prepare your child for hospital procedures. For example, positions like back-to-chest or side sitting can provide additional calming during injections, ear checks, or vital sign assessments. These positions offer a sense of security and control, reducing anxiety.
Talk
Open and honest communication is vital. Answer your child's questions truthfully and directly, addressing their concerns about appointments or procedures. Explain what to expect during their hospital stay, using age-appropriate language. You can also share your own stories of facing fears or anxiety, offering humour and honesty about how you managed those situations. This approach normalizes their experience and provides them with strategies for coping.
Additionally, encourage your child to express their feelings and validate their emotions. It's important to acknowledge the difficulty of certain appointments and remind your child that it's okay to feel anxious. You can also empower them by praising their accomplishments and expressing pride in their efforts.
Combined Approach:
Combining touch and talk can be especially reassuring. For example, while holding hands with your child, engage in deep breathing exercises. Show them how to take slow, deep inhales and pretend to blow out birthday candles. This distracts from anxious feelings while also providing the comfort of your touch.
Remember, by staying calm and positive yourself, you can help your child feel more relaxed and secure during their hospital experience.
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Use calming language and techniques
Calming language and techniques are essential to helping children manage their anxiety about hospital visits or medical procedures. Here are some strategies that can be employed:
Use Relaxing and Reassuring Language
Use a calm and relaxed tone of voice and body language to convey a sense of peace and reassurance to the child. Avoid leading questions that may trigger or feed into their anxieties. Instead, ask open-ended questions that encourage them to share their feelings and concerns. For example, instead of asking, "Are you worried about the test?", try "How are you feeling about the test?". This approach shows empathy without agreeing with their fears and helps them confront their worries.
Practice Deep Breathing and Relaxation Techniques
Teach children deep breathing techniques to help them calm down. This can be made fun by asking them to pretend their belly is a balloon—breathing in to make it bigger and breathing out to make it shrink. Other simple relaxation techniques include finding a quiet space away from distractions and trying out poses like the Lazy Cat or the Turtle. These techniques encourage deep breathing and help children learn to manage their anxiety.
Engage in Pretend Play and Distraction Techniques
Distraction is a powerful tool to help children stay calm. Child life specialists often use pretend play with dolls or toy doctor kits, especially with younger children. Blowing bubbles or engaging in games and stories can also distract children from their anxieties and make the hospital experience less intimidating.
Provide Comfort and Physical Reassurance
A trusted adult's touch can be incredibly calming for a child. Holding a child securely during a procedure can provide comfort and help them feel less alone in facing their fears. Certain positions, such as back-to-chest or side sitting, can be less anxiety-provoking than lying flat on the back, which offers the least amount of control.
Share Stories of Resilience
Share stories of how you or they themselves successfully navigated difficult situations in the past. Recalling happy memories of resilience, such as overcoming a challenge or making a new friend, can give children courage and remind them of their strength.
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Provide choices and control
Children often experience anxiety in healthcare settings due to a lack of control over their environment. This sense of helplessness, coupled with fear and pain, can cause children to feel powerless. Child Life Specialists are experts at helping children through medical appointments and procedures. Here are some strategies to provide choices and control to calm hospital anxiety in children:
Offer Choices
When possible, offer children choices to provide them with a sense of control. For example, they may not be able to choose whether they need an injection, but they can decide if they prefer it in their right or left arm. Similarly, if a cast is required, they can choose its colour. These choices can make children feel more involved in their care and reduce their anxiety.
Play Therapy
Play therapy can be an effective tool for giving children a sense of control and helping them express their feelings. Child Life Specialists often use pretend play with dolls or toy doctor kits, especially with younger children, to help them process their hospital experiences. Play sessions can take place in a hospital playroom, at the bedside, or even in waiting rooms.
Information and Trust
Providing children with information about what to expect during a hospital visit can make them feel more in control and reduce anxiety. Being honest and explaining procedures in age-appropriate language can help alleviate fears. Building trust with healthcare professionals is also essential. Children and parents appreciate being known by the professionals and having a positive atmosphere on the ward. Respecting children's boundaries and pre-set agreements is vital to establishing trust.
Distractions and Comfort
Distractions can be helpful during appointments or procedures. This could include asking children questions about their preferences, such as the flavour of their medicine or the colour of their bandages. Comfort positions, such as back-to-chest or side sitting, can also provide additional calming for children during procedures, giving them a sense of security and control.
Coping Strategies
Encourage children to develop healthy coping strategies to manage their anxiety. This could include deep breathing, playing games, or recalling happy memories. Modelling healthy anxiety management yourself can also be beneficial. Show children that it is normal to feel anxious and that they can face their fears with your support.
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Recognise and normalise fears
Recognising and normalising fears is a crucial aspect of helping children cope with hospital anxiety. Children often experience psychological trauma when faced with healthcare procedures due to their lack of control over the environment, which can make them feel helpless and anxious. Here are some ways to address these fears:
Recognise Behavioural Changes
Pay attention to any behavioural changes in your child around the time of medical treatment. This can include physical and emotional symptoms such as sadness, clinginess, or regressive behaviour like thumb sucking or bed-wetting. Recognising these changes is the first step in understanding and addressing your child's medical anxiety.
Acknowledge Their Fears
Let your child know that it is normal and okay to feel nervous or scared. Empathise with their feelings and offer a reassuring touch, such as holding their hand. Reassure them that they don't have to face their fears alone and that you are there for them.
Provide Reassurance and Distraction
Use calming techniques, such as soft, relaxing music, to soothe your child's anxiety. Engage them in conversations about their interests, favourite TV shows, pets, or friends. Ask them about their friends or a happy memory, such as overcoming a difficult situation or achieving something they are proud of.
Offer Choices and Control
Give your child choices whenever possible to help them feel empowered. For example, they may not be able to refuse a blood pressure reading, but they can choose which arm to use. This sense of control can help reduce their anxiety and make them feel more involved in their medical care.
Foster Attachment and Support
A strong attachment to a primary caregiver, such as a parent, can help children cope with hospital anxiety. Caregivers should try to remain calm and positive, praising their child's accomplishments and acknowledging their feelings. If needed, seek support from other family members or professionals to ensure you are also addressing your own anxiety effectively.
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Frequently asked questions
Children exhibit anxiety in different ways, including physical and emotional symptoms. Some signs of anxiety include being sad, scared, extra clingy, or regressive behavior like thumb sucking or bed wetting. If you notice any of these changes in your child's behavior, it's important to address their worries and help them calm their anxiety.
There are several ways to help your child manage their hospital anxiety. Firstly, recognize and address their fears by providing reassurance and letting them know it's normal to feel nervous. You can also distract them by asking about their interests, playing games, or recalling happy memories. Additionally, encourage open communication with the doctor and provide choices when possible to help your child feel more empowered.
It's important to remember that children can pick up on their parents' moods and anxieties. Try to remain calm and positive, and if you're feeling worried, work through those feelings together with your child. Address your own anxiety by actively participating in your child's medical care, understanding their treatment, and seeking support from others if needed.
