Childhood in a hospital bed
What should be done to make a child feel like a child, even in a hospital bed? 
The girl plays the drum at the University of Missouri Medical Center. Photo: University of Missouri Health Care
The fund often helps children who have to spend long weeks and months in hospitals. All this time the child is surrounded by doctors, nurses and parents, but no one thinks about how to make the child feel not only a patient. How to make her have a childhood in the hospital ward. In the West, there are child life programs to support children in clinics, in Ukraine, this area, unfortunately, is very rare, but some charities are beginning to develop it. However, we must not forget that in the first place, when a child is in a hospital bed, it is primarily the attitude and perception of parents.
History of the question
The first such programs originated in the United States in the 1920s: for example, at CS Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan. A department of "children’s life" appeared in the city hospital of Cleveland in 1955 at the initiative of Professor Emma Planck, who is considered the founder of this field of medicine. There are now more than 400 children’s life programs in North America. The same approach is used in Europe, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, the Arab world (for example, in Kuwait).
The child’s psyche is plastic, and this is absolutely true. That is why it quickly adapts to changing external circumstances. Hospital days here, unfortunately (and perhaps fortunately), are no exception.
As a rule, a child finds himself in a hospital bed in a rather serious condition, when his psychological resistance to treatment (white coats, injections, examinations, painful procedures, etc.) is significantly reduced by a general violation of physical condition. And by the time the treatment begins to work and the condition stabilizes, the child has time to morally adapt to all the troubles that occur around him.
Indeed, the younger she is, the faster this process takes place. However, when treatment is prolonged, limited space and activities at a time when well-being improves, especially in mobile and playful children, can cause additional nervous tension. What should parents do whose children are "behind bars" in medical institutions?
First of all, take matters into your own hands and tune in to success and a positive outcome. My one-and-a-half-year-old son spent nine months in the hospital, and in the worst moments he just looked me in the eye - if my mother smiles, it’s worth a little patience, everything will be fine. I am convinced that this is the most difficult thing for parents - not to be confident themselves, but to charge their child with confidence. In the clinic where we were then, there was one unshakable rule in the parental environment - do not cry with children. And there are many situations in which it was impossible to hold back tears. And none of those seriously ill children saw the red eyes of their mothers. Every child was sure that she would be cured, she would go home and everything would be fine. And this in many ways gave them the strength to be treated and live on, contrary to the predictions of doctors.
When the first shock of the diagnosis passes and long-term treatment begins, parents try to live in the future, the one that will begin outside the hospital. And when it comes to weeks or months, maybe that’s a good thing. However, when it comes to months, years, two… You should adjust yourself to the fact that the hospital is now your home, where you and your child will have to build a whole new life.
And the first task is to make it acceptable for the child. There should be time for books, toys and communication, tablets, phones and gadgets. You need a daily routine and discipline. Classes, studies and recreation. Walks, unless prohibited by doctors, friends and relatives. All the same, that you would do at home, according to the age of your child.
Playing with a child on aiPad during the examination - it distracts and reduces stress. Photo: umich.edu
The hospital is a huge limitation for the baby’s mobile brain, but even in those conditions you can find great opportunities. The ward where my child was kept was closed - no visits were allowed, we went out five times in nine months, and there was a strict ban on contact with strangers. However, sometimes it was possible to play with other young patients. And life was in full swing in the department: children exchanged toys, discussed treatment as adults, and supported those who were tired, afraid, or crying. They invented games for everyone - young and old, and those who were chained to drips and beds. They learned there compassion, mutual assistance and strength. Do not keep children in bed unless prescribed by a doctor - give them the opportunity to communicate even in such extreme conditions. Moreover,
Arrange with relatives, teachers, classmates to call and write. This is especially important when the first shock of the diagnosis passes and most of those who supported and sympathized, get tired, forget, put off, because they have a lot of their own business. Call and remind yourself, ask and negotiate. Communication heals your children.
My son and I read a lot, looked at pictures. The chamber was overwhelmed with toys, constructors, puzzles. The walls, painted in depressive colors, are draped with posters and maps, which we used to make incredible trips around the world. He laughed and enjoyed life. We also had strict discipline. You couldn’t say "I don’t want to, I won’t" when you had to take medicine or collect blood for analysis. It was necessary to eat what was allowed, not what was wanted. Follow all instructions in time, even if it was uncomfortable and sometimes even painful. But we both understood (I never tired of explaining it) that the fullness of his future life depended on it. And he understood this perfectly at the age of one and a half.
Playing hockey in the hospital lobby. Photo: umich.edu
Older children managed to do their homework because they did not want to lag behind their classmates. And those, at the request of parents and teachers, sent text messages and letters, drawings and small gifts - any sign of attention, may be the milestone from which recovery will begin. One ten-year-old boy was promisedto present the dream car on radio control, on discharge from hospital. And he was discharged healthy, although at the last stage the doctors dropped their hands and the prognosis was quite disappointing. Another , even before his discharge, made some (I will not invent, because I do not understand) a small but interesting technical discovery, when his father gave him an electrician.
Talk to the children. Even with the smallest. Sick children grow up very quickly. They see and understand that something is wrong in their lives. We must be honest with them. It is wrong and unfair that you are sick, but such is life. We love you and will do everything to help you recover. Until aftercan us. More depends on you here than on us. We understand that you are in pain and scared, we are scared too, but we are ready to go through everything with you. You are strong, we learn this power from you. And we will win because we are together.
The children remain children in the hospital ward as well. Their children’s needs, aspirations and desires can be talked about as long as healthy children. They are not different, they are the same, only their lives are a little more complicated and less comfortable. And also , in many respects on the attitude of adults depends on their full future and peace of mind.
Author Анна Степанова (Stream Content Agency)
To help the wards of the fund
The girl plays the drum at the University of Missouri Medical Center. Photo: University of Missouri Health CareThe fund often helps children who have to spend long weeks and months in hospitals. All this time the child is surrounded by doctors, nurses and parents, but no one thinks about how to make the child feel not only a patient. How to make her have a childhood in the hospital ward. In the West, there are child life programs to support children in clinics, in Ukraine, this area, unfortunately, is very rare, but some charities are beginning to develop it. However, we must not forget that in the first place, when a child is in a hospital bed, it is primarily the attitude and perception of parents.
History of the question
The first such programs originated in the United States in the 1920s: for example, at CS Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan. A department of "children’s life" appeared in the city hospital of Cleveland in 1955 at the initiative of Professor Emma Planck, who is considered the founder of this field of medicine. There are now more than 400 children’s life programs in North America. The same approach is used in Europe, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, the Arab world (for example, in Kuwait).
The child’s psyche is plastic, and this is absolutely true. That is why it quickly adapts to changing external circumstances. Hospital days here, unfortunately (and perhaps fortunately), are no exception.
As a rule, a child finds himself in a hospital bed in a rather serious condition, when his psychological resistance to treatment (white coats, injections, examinations, painful procedures, etc.) is significantly reduced by a general violation of physical condition. And by the time the treatment begins to work and the condition stabilizes, the child has time to morally adapt to all the troubles that occur around him.
Indeed, the younger she is, the faster this process takes place. However, when treatment is prolonged, limited space and activities at a time when well-being improves, especially in mobile and playful children, can cause additional nervous tension. What should parents do whose children are "behind bars" in medical institutions?
First of all, take matters into your own hands and tune in to success and a positive outcome. My one-and-a-half-year-old son spent nine months in the hospital, and in the worst moments he just looked me in the eye - if my mother smiles, it’s worth a little patience, everything will be fine. I am convinced that this is the most difficult thing for parents - not to be confident themselves, but to charge their child with confidence. In the clinic where we were then, there was one unshakable rule in the parental environment - do not cry with children. And there are many situations in which it was impossible to hold back tears. And none of those seriously ill children saw the red eyes of their mothers. Every child was sure that she would be cured, she would go home and everything would be fine. And this in many ways gave them the strength to be treated and live on, contrary to the predictions of doctors.
When the first shock of the diagnosis passes and long-term treatment begins, parents try to live in the future, the one that will begin outside the hospital. And when it comes to weeks or months, maybe that’s a good thing. However, when it comes to months, years, two… You should adjust yourself to the fact that the hospital is now your home, where you and your child will have to build a whole new life.
And the first task is to make it acceptable for the child. There should be time for books, toys and communication, tablets, phones and gadgets. You need a daily routine and discipline. Classes, studies and recreation. Walks, unless prohibited by doctors, friends and relatives. All the same, that you would do at home, according to the age of your child.
Playing with a child on aiPad during the examination - it distracts and reduces stress. Photo: umich.eduThe hospital is a huge limitation for the baby’s mobile brain, but even in those conditions you can find great opportunities. The ward where my child was kept was closed - no visits were allowed, we went out five times in nine months, and there was a strict ban on contact with strangers. However, sometimes it was possible to play with other young patients. And life was in full swing in the department: children exchanged toys, discussed treatment as adults, and supported those who were tired, afraid, or crying. They invented games for everyone - young and old, and those who were chained to drips and beds. They learned there compassion, mutual assistance and strength. Do not keep children in bed unless prescribed by a doctor - give them the opportunity to communicate even in such extreme conditions. Moreover,
Arrange with relatives, teachers, classmates to call and write. This is especially important when the first shock of the diagnosis passes and most of those who supported and sympathized, get tired, forget, put off, because they have a lot of their own business. Call and remind yourself, ask and negotiate. Communication heals your children.
My son and I read a lot, looked at pictures. The chamber was overwhelmed with toys, constructors, puzzles. The walls, painted in depressive colors, are draped with posters and maps, which we used to make incredible trips around the world. He laughed and enjoyed life. We also had strict discipline. You couldn’t say "I don’t want to, I won’t" when you had to take medicine or collect blood for analysis. It was necessary to eat what was allowed, not what was wanted. Follow all instructions in time, even if it was uncomfortable and sometimes even painful. But we both understood (I never tired of explaining it) that the fullness of his future life depended on it. And he understood this perfectly at the age of one and a half.
Playing hockey in the hospital lobby. Photo: umich.edu Older children managed to do their homework because they did not want to lag behind their classmates. And those, at the request of parents and teachers, sent text messages and letters, drawings and small gifts - any sign of attention, may be the milestone from which recovery will begin. One ten-year-old boy was promisedto present the dream car on radio control, on discharge from hospital. And he was discharged healthy, although at the last stage the doctors dropped their hands and the prognosis was quite disappointing. Another , even before his discharge, made some (I will not invent, because I do not understand) a small but interesting technical discovery, when his father gave him an electrician.
Talk to the children. Even with the smallest. Sick children grow up very quickly. They see and understand that something is wrong in their lives. We must be honest with them. It is wrong and unfair that you are sick, but such is life. We love you and will do everything to help you recover. Until aftercan us. More depends on you here than on us. We understand that you are in pain and scared, we are scared too, but we are ready to go through everything with you. You are strong, we learn this power from you. And we will win because we are together.
The children remain children in the hospital ward as well. Their children’s needs, aspirations and desires can be talked about as long as healthy children. They are not different, they are the same, only their lives are a little more complicated and less comfortable. And also , in many respects on the attitude of adults depends on their full future and peace of mind.
Author Анна Степанова (Stream Content Agency)
To help the wards of the fund