As a parent you want your child to behave during a medical appointment. A good way to do that is to practice by acting out what you expect to happen. An easier way is to read them a picture story book which shows and tells what typically can happen. There are lots of “Go to the Doctor” books showing what your child might see. There are hospital and surgery books which show different procedures. My Pain Alert® books are the ONLY books to prepare them to get effective help for their pain – by introducing key words, pain level pictures, and simple sign language. Bea-the Best Kind of Patient https://www.amazon.com/Bea-Patient-Gail-Goldstein-CCCSLP/dp/0988161063/ref=sr is an illustrated story of a preschool child needing doctor’s care. It includes My Pain Alert® Scale practice using pictures, sign language, or words for the child to indicate the care they need when they are in pain.
As a parent, you want your child to tell when they are in pain, not scream or fight with medical staff. Years ago the author’s little boy needed repeat blood draws. She considered it positive that he improved from five staff holding him to only needing two. Now we know there are better ways to get through needle sticks. See the video link “It doesn’t have to hurt” provided by IWK: https://youtu.be/KgBwVSYqfps?si=P3RNhZqtmot
As parents you are your child’s only teacher of pain communication words. You are the one they go to first for pain help. So, any pain experience should be dealt with quickly with as little stress as possible. You can buy Bea- the Best Kind of Patient, and read it together until you are satisfied that your little one can effectively ask for pain help with the surgery or the procedure they need. Having the 7mB My Pain Alert® Book in your phone means you always have it with you to help your child with an ordinary doctor visit, or to focus their control through a physical trauma.
My Pain Alert® Book download for your phone or the level stories of “Bea” are the only pain level communication trainers for young children and others. Both books have the same interactive stories for MPAS pain levels. They also explain about different types of pain, and how taking medicine works. If your child can point to the hurt boy pictures, or learn simple signs from our book, they can be ready to help with their medical procedure. The youngest preschool pain patient who used our methods was age one. He signed “pain” and pointed to where it hurt.
No one wants to see their child in pain. Most parents would make the “do anything” bargain to avoid it. So, is reading a picture storybook together a reasonable ask? Is looking at the interactive My Pain Alert® Scale stories in your cellphone with your child while waiting in the doctor’s office something you could do?
As parents, you know best!
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