What part about surgery is most stressful for a school-aged child?

If your school-aged child is facing surgery, it can be helpful to plan ahead if possible. Explain what your child can expect. It’s most helpful to do this about a week or two before the surgery. Preparing too far in advance can cause more anxiety. Recognizing what is stressful to your school-aged child while in the hospital can guide you in getting them ready for the surgical experience. Common stressors and fears in the hospital may include:

Being away from family, familiar surroundings, pets, school, and friends

Thinking they are in the hospital because they are bad or are being punished

Having a part of the body destroyed or injured

Loss of control

Pain (or the possibility of pain)

Needles and shots

Dying during surgery

Helpful books for you and your child

Claire Ciliotta and Carole Livingston. 1992. Why Am I Going to the Hospital? Lyle Stuart. (Ages 5 to 12)

James Howe. 1994. The Hospital Book. Morrow Junior Books. (Ages 6 to 10)

Sara Bonnett Stein. 1985. A Hospital Story. New York: Walker and Co. (Ages 5 to 7)

Lisa Ann Marsoli. 1984. Things to Know Before You Go to the Hospital . Silver Burdett Co.

Debbie Duncan, Nina Ollikainen (Illustrator). 1995. When Molly Was in the Hospital: A Book for Brothers and Sisters of Hospitalized Children . Rayve Productions Inc. (Ages 4 to 7)

Virginia Dooley and Miriam Katin. 1996. Tubes in My Ears: My Trip to the Hospital . Mondo Publishing. (Ages 5 to 7)

Paulette Bourgeois, Brenda Clark (Illustrator). 2000. Franklin Goes to the Hospital (volume 25) . Scholastic Inc. (Ages 5 to 7)

Deborah Hautzig. 1985. A Visit to the Sesame Street Hospital. Random House/Children’s Television Workshop. (Ages 4 to 7)

Marianne Johnston and Erin Mckenna. 1997. Let’s Talk About Going to the Hospital . The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. (Ages 8 to 9)

Francine Paschal. 1991. Twins Go To The Hospital: Sweet Valley Kids Series #20. Bantam Books. (Ages 6 to 8)

Juliana Lee Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, Marilyn Mets (Illustrator). 2001. Good-Bye Tonsils! Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. (Ages 4 to 8)

Norman Bridwell. 2000. Clifford Visits the Hospital. ( Clifford the Big Red Dog ). Scholastic Inc. (Ages 4 to 8)

H.A. Ray. 1999. Curious George Goes to the Hospital. Rebound by Sagebrush. (Ages 4 to 8)

Barbara Taylor Cork. 2002. Katie Goes to the Hospital. Peter Bedrick; 1 edition. (Ages 4 to 8)

Joanna Cole and Bruce Degar. 1989. The Magic School Bus: Inside the Human Body . Scholastic Inc. (Ages 6 to 9)

Anne Civardi and Michelle Bates. 2002. Going to the Hospital. Sagebrush Education Resource. (Ages 4 to 8)