Your child is going to hospital - A family experience
Information and ideas to help you before, during, and after your hospital visit
- Preparing your child
- What you can do
- Children's books to look for
- You may want to ask your doctor / specialist
- You may want to ring the hospital to ask
- You may need to
- Some things your child may like to take with them
- Some things you may like to take with you
- During hospital
- You may want to ask
- You may want to tell the hospital staff
- Before you go home
- After Hospital
- Helping make sense of what happened
- If you have any concerns, some people who may help you are
Preparing your child
- Tell your child honestly and truthfully why they need to go to hospital. Listen to your child's questions and talk about them
- You don't have to know all the answers. When and what you say will depend on your child's age and level of understanding. If unsure call the hospital and talk with a Play Therapist or Nurse about what to say and when.
- Make an "All About Me" board and decorate it to hang on your child's hospital bed. You can include things like:
- my favourite toy / game / colour
- my pet's name
- my favourite food
- what I like to think about when I'm going to sleep
- my name / nickname
This will help build trust and confidence between your child and the hospital staff.
- Try to read together books for children about going to hospital. Your local library, school or kindergarten could help you.
- Give your child lots of time to play about hospital.
You Can
- Pretend to give a cuddly toy a blood test
- Put bandages on a doll
- Make a doll's house or cardboard box into a hospital
- Build a hospital with blocks
- Play "ambulance" with toy cars
- Draw pictures or write stories about hospital
Children's Books to Look For
Ask your child's teacher or the local librarian about other appropriate books about hospital, or call the Royal Children's Hospital Bookshop on 03 9345-6429.
You may want to ask your doctor / specialist
- How long will the hospital stay be?
- What tests and procedures will need to be done? Will any of them be painful and how will that pain be managed?
- Do they have any printed information about your child's illness / procedure or operation?
You may want to ring the hospital to ask:
- If it is not a children's hospital, do they have a special area set aside for children?
- Can you and your child visit the hospital before the admission (pre-admission programme)?
- Are there child care services for brothers and sisters?
- Do they have play and school programmes available for your child while they are in hospital?
- Where can you park your car, what is the fee and is it hard to get a space in the car park?
- Can they send you a hospital information booklet?
- What should you and your child bring with you?
You may need to:
Let your child's kindergarten or school know that your child needs to go to hospital. They may be able to help prepare your child for hospital, and to work with the hospital to ensure your child keeps in touch with them, and returns to kindergarten or school appropriately.
- Arrange for child care for your other children
- Ask for support from friends / relations to arrange meals for other family members
- Arrange for pick-up and drop-off from school for your other children
Some things your child may like to take with them:
- "All About Me" sign for your child's bed (see 'Preparing Your Child')
- A family photograph
- A favourite comfort toy
- Own pyjamas / slippers
- Toothbrush, etc
- Favourite music, books or toys
- Some school work.
Some things you may like to take with you:
- Medicare details and your child's previous medical history
- Phone numbers you may need
- Loose change or a phonecard
- Toiletries and a change of clothes
- A book to read
- Layers of comfortable clothes
- Pen and paper to write down ideas / questions for staff.
During hospital
Help you child cope with the hospital by creating a "My stay in hospital" book or diary. Include things such as:
- The doctor's name
- The specialist's name
- The nurse in charge's name
- The primary nurse's name
- The play therapist's name
- The social worker's name
- Names of other staff members working with your child
- Notes about things that happened and how they felt.
They may also like to include pictures or drawings of being in hospital.
You may want to ask:
- Are any potentially painful treatments performed away from the child's bed?
- Can you be with your child during these procedures?
- Are children given explanations and encouragement before procedures?
- Does the hospital have a care plan for your child and can you see this plan on a regular basis?
- Can you be present in the Pre-op Room and while the anaesthetic is being given?
- Can you be with your child in the Recovery Room?
- How long will the operation last?
- When are the doctor's ward rounds?
- Where are the telephones / toilets / tea / coffee facilities?
- Will someone be available to comfort / settle your child if you have to leave for any reason?
You may want to tell the hospital staff:
- Your child's special names / words for food / toilet / etc
- Your child's nickname
- Your child's likes and dislikes about food
- Any fears or phobias your child may have
- Special ways your child likes to go to sleep / relax.
It helps if these things are on your child's "All About Me" boards.
Before you go home:
- Ask play staff if they could help you make up a hospital play kit to take home
- Check that you have any medications or instructions before you leave and a phone number to call if you are worried.
After Hospital
Understanding your child's behaviour. Try to be supportive, as your child may need time to:
- Re-establish their place at home and in the family
- Look for extra love and reassurance
- Express anger, confusion or fear about being away from you and home
You may also notice that brother's and sister's are unsettled by your child's hospital experience. Getting back to a normal routine and a generous sense of humour will help everyone at this stage.
NB: Please don't threaten a return to hospital or to take them back for another needle, as punishment for behaviour you do not like. This can be VERY destructive for your child and for any possible future medical interventions.
Your patience and loving support will help towards a positive recovery from any hospital visit.
Helping make sense of what happened:
- Allow your child plenty of opportunity to play about being in hospital
- Let your child talk about their experience at kindergarten / school:
- take the "All About Me" board and their "My Stay in Hospital" book / diary;
- identity bracelet;
- x-rays;
- photographs of the hospital.
If you have any concerns, some people who may help you are:
- Your child's teacher
- A play therapist / specialist
- Your doctor or hospital staff
- A maternal and child health nurse.
For more detailed help or information contact:
Resource Centre for Child Health and Safety (CHAS)
Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne
03 9345-6429
Department of Educational Play Therapy
Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne
03 9345-5424