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  4. Preparing Your Child for Surgery

Preparing Your Child for Surgery

As a parent, you can help prepare your child for everything from their hospital stay to their healing after the operation.

You know your child better than anyone. That knowledge, and simply being their parent, makes you qualified to help. 

How children behave is often modeled by those around them, especially their parents. If you show your anxiety and fear, your child is more likely to follow those behaviours. As hard as it can be, try to remain calm and be there when your child needs you. 

Make sure your child understands that the operation will help them get better. Do not promise your child anything that you are not absolutely sure will happen. If you aren’t sure how to answer their questions, tell them you don’t know but that you will find out. By giving correct information only, your child will more easily adapt to changes and be more trusting. 

Often, fear and anxiety come from the unknown. Find out as much as you can about the test or procedure. If you know what's involved, you will feel more in control and will be better able to help your child. Also, find out what your child is likely to experience before, during and after. 

Reassure your child that you will be there for them. If possible, arrange for other family or support people to come relieve you so your child is not alone. Volunteers are available to be with your child if you need to step away for a short period of time. 

Child Life Specialist programs are available at the Regina General Hospital and Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital (Saskatoon). They help ease the anxiety and fear your child may have around their surgery. Child Life Specialists meet the psychosocial and emotional needs of children and families during their hospital stay. They have many great tools to help emotionally prepare your child for surgery and what comes after. 

The video below is great to watch with your child before surgery. It explains the surgery process using Rosie the Therapy Doll and other children.  

Pediatric Surgery Tour

Sources of Medical Information

  1. Preparing for Surgery and Hospitalization 

Related Pages

  • Child Life Specialist
  • Teammates for Kids Child Life Zone
  • Surgery Recovery

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If you believe you have an emergency, dial 911.

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  • Pregnancy, Birth & Newborns
    • Prenatal Care
      • Prenatal Education
    • Labour & Birth
      • What to Pack for You and Baby
      • Who to Bring to the Hospital
      • Staying at the Hospital
      • Pain Management Options in Labour
    • Postnatal & Newborn Care
      • Circumcision
      • Feeding Your Newborn
      • Mom's Care at Home
      • Newborn Care at Home
      • Newborn Hearing Screen
    • Pregnancy & Infant Loss
    • Maternal Mental Health
    • Neonatal Intensive Care
  • Infant & Child Health
    • Specialty Care
      • Audiology
      • Cardiology
      • Cleft Lip & Palate
      • Cystic Fibrosis
      • Development
      • Ear, Nose & Throat
      • Diabetes & Endocrinology
      • Gastroenterology
      • Genetics
      • Hematology
      • Infectious Diseases
      • Metabolics
      • Neonatal Follow-Up
      • Nephrology
      • Neurology
      • Outpatient Clinics
      • Pain Clinic
      • Palliative Care
      • REACH
      • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Program
      • Respirology
      • Rheumatology
      • Social Pediatrics
    • Inpatient Care
      • Irene & Leslie Dube Centre for Mental Health
      • Keeping Up with School
      • Packing for Your Child's Hospital Stay
      • Your Child's Stay at the Hospital
    • Surgery
      • Preparing Your Child for Surgery
      • Surgery Recovery
    • Programs for Kids
      • Child Life Specialist
      • Hearing Health
      • Home Care
      • Occupational Therapy
      • Physical Therapy
      • Psychology
      • Respite Care
      • Specialized Feeding
      • Speech Language Pathology
    • Primary Health Care & Public Health
      • Immunization
    • PICU Transport Team
  • Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital
    • Inside Our Hospital
      • Childminding
      • Children’s Emergency Department
      • Day Medicine
      • Family & Play Spaces
      • Family Theatre
      • Maternal Care Centre
      • Maternal Outpatient Clinic
      • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at JPCH
      • Pediatric Inpatient Unit
      • Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
      • Pediatric Outpatient Clinic
      • Pediatric Surgery & Recovery
      • School Room
      • Sleep Lab
      • Special Procedure Room/Catheterization Lab
      • Teammates for Kids Child Life Zone
    • Visitor Information
    • Parking
    • Directions
    • Contact Jim Pattison Children's Hospital
  • Hospitals & Facilities
    • Hospitals & Health Centres
      • Regina General Hospital
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      • Alvin Buckwold Child Development Program
      • Wascana Rehabilitation Centre
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