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Necessary Needles
8 Steps Parents Can Take to Minimize the Pain By Carma Haley Shoemaker
Another suggestion to help ease the fear of a young child is role playing. Herron recommends having a child role play using a favorite doll to mock-examine in order to allow the child a way of expressing fears and help them prepare for the medical appointment.
"Explain to the child what will happen at the doctor's office or hospital and then have them act it out," says Herron. "This gives the child a chance to express his or her fears. In addition, giving a child a specific job to do during the doctor's appointment or medical procedure helps relieve anxiety as well. The child has a specific focus and feels like he or she is maintaining some control."
"Children take cues from the tone [of] voice and language," sas Dr. Zempsky. "That's why we must use upbeat cheerful language when possible. It is essential that parents learn and know how to become part of the care team by using these same techniques. Parents who are extremely anxious or use negative language or messages such as 'Don't do that or you'll get a shot,' only exacerbate a child's underlying fear."