Preparing Your School-age Child for a Surgical Experience
If your school-age child is having surgery, you'll be better able to prepare him if you know what he's worried about and how you can help.
What is your child concerned about?
- He's worried about losing control, as well as saying or doing embarrassing things
- He fears his body will be damaged and that surgery will change the way he looks
- He's scared he'll wake up during the surgery
How can you help prepare your school-age child?
- Give him a good bit of prep time, at least one to two weeks ahead. Offer details about events before, during and after surgery. Explain there's a special doctor whose job is to make sure that patients do not feel anything during the procedure.
- Be supportive and honest, and treat your child as normally as possible. He may become angry or quiet in anticipation of surgery; that's normal. Reassure him and encourage him to talk about what he's feeling.
- Read all about it. Find an age-appropriate book about going to the hospital and read it with him.
- Check for understanding. School-age children will listen carefully, but may not understand all that was said, so have your child explain back to you what's going to happen in the hospital.
- Involve friends. Encourage your child's friends to visit the hospital, or to keep in touch with your child via telephone, text, email and cards.
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