What part about surgery is most stressful for a preschool child?

Preschool-aged children can benefit from preoperative planning, education, and explanations. Begin preparing your child several days before the procedure. This will give your preschool child time to absorb it all. Recognizing what is stressful to your preschool child while in the hospital can guide you in preparing them for the experience. Common stressors and fears in the hospital may include the following:

Fear of being away from family and home, or of being left alone

Thoughts that they are in the hospital because they are in trouble or being punished

Fear of having a part of the body damaged

Fear of needles and shots

Fear of waking up during surgery

Fear of pain (or the possibility of pain)

Fear of the dark

Helpful books for you and your child

Mother Circulated. 2005. Going to the Hospital(First Experiences). Usborne Publishing Ltd. (Ages 3 and up)

Fred Rogers. 1997. Going to the Hospital. Penguin Young Readers Group. (Ages 2 to 6)

Deborah Hautzig. 1985. A Visit to the Sesame Street Hospital. Random House for Young Readers. (Ages 4 and up)

Richard Scarry. 1995. A Big Operation (The Busy World of Richard Scarry) . Aladdin Paperback. (Ages 2 to 4)

Debbie Duncan. 1995. When Molly Was in the Hospital: A Book for Brothers and Sisters of Hospitalized Children . Rayve Productions, Incorporated. (Ages 3 and up)

Paulette Bourgeois. 2011. Franklin Goes to the Hospital. Kids Can Press. (Ages 3 to 8)

Virginia Dooley. 1996. Tubes in My Ears: My Trip to the Hospital . Mondo Publishing. (Ages 4 to 7)

Juliana Lee Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff. 2004. Good-Bye Tonsils! Puffin Books. (Ages 4 to 8)

Norman Bridwell. 2000. Clifford Visits the Hospital. Scholastic Incorporated. (Ages 4 to 8)

Margret Rey, H.A. Ray. 2010. Curious George Goes to the Hospital. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. (Ages 4 to 7)

Barbara Taylor Cork. 2002. Katie Goes to the Hospital. Brighter Child. (Ages 5 to 8)

Joanna Cole. 1990. The Magic School Bus: Inside the Human Body. Scholastic, Incorporated. (Ages 4 to 8)