Resources for children developmentally 3-6 yrs
undergoing medical care/ healthcare experiences
Read.
Read to your child and promote their sense of literacy and language. Books about visiting the hospital can help children understand their procedures, body, or medical experiences.
Book of the Month: Curious George Goes to the Hospital, by Margret Rey
Watch.
Giving children something to focus on to distract them can be an especially effective way to minimize anxiety. Child Life Specialists use distraction as a positive coping tool to identify age-appropriate, individualized distraction plan to help create a positive experience for your child during a medical procedure.
App of the Month: Toca Pet Doctor
Do.
Bring comfort from home: familiar music, blankets, books, and/or photos help encourage a sense of familiarity and routine.
Utilize bubbles (if appropriate), soothing music, and comfort strategies to promote relaxation.
Provide medical play opportunities to provide a sense of control and empowerment.
Correct misconceptions right away, and give clear and concrete explanations.
Offer choices whenever possible, and provide a step-by-step explanation
Provide pictures or facts about their procedures, body, or medical experiences.
Provide positioning for comfort during medical or painful procedures
Play doctor with dolls and medical kits.
Ask questions about what the doll does. For example: Why is the doll going to the doctor? What will happen at the doctor's office or hospital? Talk about feelings the "doll" might have.
Introduce medical art play i.e syringes in water play
Screen-time for children 3 - 6 years old.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children ages 2 to 6 years, limit screen use to 1 hour per day of high-quality programs. Parents should co-view media with children to help them understand what they are seeing and apply it to the world around them.
I Can. You Can.
Developmental Support for children ages 3 - 6 years old (printable)
