Do everything you can to reduce your own anxiety. Start by asking lots of questions! Find out as much as you can about what to expect when you bring your child to the doctor/hospital. You may ask about what your child will look like after a procedure (swelling, bandages, etc.). Take notes so you will remember what you are told and write down any questions you might have.

School age children can be given more specific information about what is going to happen to them. Start by asking what they think it means to have an operation/procedure. This is a good way for you to learn about their misconceptions. Continually ask this even after you have given an explanation to be sure that your child has understood what you have told him/her.

This is a great age for medical play. Allow your child the opportunity to reenact events through play with different kinds of toys or art materials. This is an important way for school age children to express their feelings and gain a sense of control over what is happening to them.

Try not to have conversations about your child's care in him/her presence unless you are including him/her in the conversation. Children overhear much more than adults think and without any explanation the information may seem terribly frightening.

Encourage peer interactions in the hospital. You can do this by bringing your child to the playroom or library when he/she feels well enough and helping him/her keep in touch with his/her friends from home and/or school. Try to get schoolwork for your child so he/she can keep up with his/her class.

Respect your child's privacy and encourage others to do the same by knocking before entering the room and being sensitive to who is around when examinations are being conducted.

Sometimes children at this age regress, or start up behaviors that they had grown out of (thumb sucking, bed wetting, etc.), when in a stressful situation like being in the hospital. Encourage your child to express his feelings and discharge emotions through play.

Stay overnight with your child if you can. If appropriate, let other family members, including brothers and sisters, come and visit. When your child is going to a procedure ask if you can be there. If this is not possible, stay with your child as long as you can. Give comfort by talking, singing, reading or doing any of the things that you
know are usually soothing.

Bring familiar objects from home such as a picture, stuffed animal, game, etc. Use these items to help comfort your child before, during and after procedures.

Reassure your child that the hospitalization is not a punishment. Try to avoid using good/bad labels particularly during a procedure. For example, instead of saying,"See, you were so good, the doctor only had to do this once, you can say, "You did such a good job of sitting still, I know that was hard."