Seeing a Doctor for Others:
Accompanying Your Child
If you have a child who has a scheduled doctor’s visit on the horizon, there are some pointers and tips that you should keep in mind in regard to accompanying your child to a medical appointment. By keeping these tips and pointers regarding accompanying your child to a doctor’s office in mind, you will make a medical appointment easier for your child, for you and for the doctor.
Discuss the Appointment with Your Child in Terms He or She Can Understand
Before you leave for the doctor’s appointment, it is important that you sit down and discuss in detail with your child what will happen at the doctor’s office. You need to be honest and up front with your child -- but, at the same time, you need to speak in terms that he or she will understand. Ultimately, the purpose of your pre-appointment conversation with your child is to reduce the amount of fear that your child may be experiencing in regard to a medical appointment.
Often times a parent talks about a medical appointment in adult terms that simply are lost on a child. Therefore, you will want to make very certain that your child does understand what you are saying to him or her in regard to an approaching appointment with the doctor.
Let the Doctor and His Staff Know of Any Specific Apprehensions that Your Child Has
In a similar vein, you will want to visit with the doctor’s staff before you bring your child into the office about any particular fears that your child has in regard to the appointment. Make certain that the staff is aware of any prior negative experiences that your child may have had while in a doctor’s office previously. It is better to give the doctor’s staff a heads up about what to expect as opposed to surprising the staff upon arrival with a fearful and agitated child. A prepared staff and a prepared doctor is better able to serve the needs and interests of your child.
Books on the Market
There are now some very good books on the market -- geared for children of different ages -- that discuss a doctor’s visit in terms they can understand. You might be wise in investing in such a book in advance of a medical appointment. These books are available at any major bookseller in the brick and mortar world and readily can be ordered through numerous online book vendors in operation on the Internet and World Wide Web.
Let Your Child Know You Will be There
When it comes to accompanying your child, make certain that your child understands that you will be on hand during the appointment. Perhaps your child would prefer to be examined without you standing by in the room with him or her. Even if that is the case, let the child know that you will be waiting just beyond the door.
|
