When it comes to surgical procedures, even adults are frightened before getting into the operation room, so you can imagine the plight of children! Children are very sensitive to their parents' attitude and most take on their parents' attitude towards surgery, be it fear or being brave about the procedure.
By following a few steps you could help children prepare for surgical procedures. It is important to do this to help them reduce their stress and anxiety before the surgery.
Firstly, one must remember that the child would be in a completely new environment and would help to have familiar people or things around them most times.
It could be anything, like their favourite stuffed toy. This would help them be calm down and get their mind off the surgery a little.
Parents must take great care in showing a positive and healthy attitude toward the surgery and must not under any circumstance appear nervous or anxious. Children often pick up these signs very easily and could become very nervous themselves. Have conversations with them that are positive and optimistic. For instance, using humour in your conversation could help a lot.
It is particularly important to let children know how the medical staff might examine them and touch them. For older children, it might be appropriate to discuss the procedure a little more carefully, as they might have picked up some bits of information from the telly or internet.
Make sure you give them simple and clear instructions about the whole procedure depending on their age. You must help them see why it is necessary and how it's going to help them. By giving them age-appropriate instructions you definitely help them have a more positive attitude towards surgery.
Preparing the child before surgery is not difficult, but one must keep their attitude positive and fears out themselves before they can do this. With the help and support of the family kids can cope with surgery quite well and even recover faster.
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