Undergoing medical procedures is never fun, and for kids this is doubly the case. Surgeries, no matter how minor, can be intimidating to children and can prove to be a major disruption in their normal routine. If you're looking for a way to ease your child's distress and make regular visits to the hospital or doctor's office a little less scary, try some of these unique ideas.
Play music during difficult procedures or waiting periods
Music can provide a good distraction from a procedure that's taking place, and can help both you and your child relax while sitting in a sterile waiting room. Research from the Alberta Research Center for Health Evidence indicated that there is a science behind this theory, according to The Washington Post.
In a study where music was played for children while their doctors administered IVs, it was noticed that while all kids exhibited distress at the introduction of the IV, those who were listening to music had an easier time of it. Further, researchers noticed that the type of music actually contributed the amount of distress shown by the children. When soothing pieces were played, children were not sufficiently distracted. However, when more boisterous, unpredictable pieces were played, children were likely to show less distress. The takeaway? Play Holst, not Hayden.
Teach your child to meditate
While meditation has been proven to have real and positive effects on both the mind and body, not many parents think of it as a beneficial activity for kids. However, meditation can have the same soothing results on children.
Michael De La Hunt, M.D., chief of child and adolescent psychiatry for Wolfson Children's Hospital and Nemours Children's Clinic, advocated this exercise for helping children get through times of great stress. "[Meditation] is a way to encourage them to unplug, slow down, and center themselves," De La Hunt told WJCT News.
To help your child practice meditation, provide him with a quiet environment where he feels safe unwinding and letting go. Coach him through the first few sessions by playing some quiet, soothing music and giving him voice prompts to help him relax, such as, "Imagine yourself in a beautiful place," and, "Clear your mind of anything that's causing you stress." Eventually, your child will be able to lead his or her own meditation sessions, and you may even find he is eager to do so.
Make it a ritual
Children find routines comforting. When they know exactly what to expect, they're able to feel more in control of a situation and are not as likely to experience heightened distress, which in turn makes them less likely to act out in front of doctors or other medical professionals.
Children are also able to adapt to rituals fairly quickly. If your child is required to make regular visits to the hospital or doctor's office, create a ritual for him or her to help them keep her emotions under control. It could be something as simple as getting a milkshake together beforehand, or as elaborate as picking out his or her favorite outfit to wear the day of the appointment. Rewards for good behavior can also be effective. If your child gets through the entire appointment without incident, you can treat her to an ice cream cone or even cook her favorite meal.
Medical appointments aren't easy for most children, but by doing what you can to ease the situation, both you and your child can get through them more smoothly. Help make the doctor's office less scary using these ideas or some of your own. If your child is required to take medication, make that time a little more pleasant by giving it to them in their favorite flavor. FLAVORx provides medicinal flavorings that can make taking medicine less of an ordeal. Ask your pharmacist about FLAVORx flavors for your child.
