Guide to Supporting Your Child’s Emotional Wellness During Hospital Recovery: Coping with Surgery and Tantrums

We understand that having a child in the hospital can be one of the most challenging times for both you and your child. The emotional toll can be immense, filled with anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. It’s a situation that no parent can fully prepare for, and it can happen to anyone at any time.

Thankfully, you don’t have to go through it alone. Now, most hospitals have Child Life Specialists, whose role is specifically designed to support you through your hospital experience with everything from coping cues to understanding medical terminology. Regardless, it’s understandable to want to do as much research as possible! That being said, we’ve compiled some resources to support you during your stay.

During your child’s hospital stay, you may find yourself grappling with a range of common experiences and needs:

• Coping with Medical Procedures: Understanding and preparing for surgeries or treatments.
• Managing Emotional Responses: Helping your child navigate their feelings of fear, frustration, or sadness.
• Maintaining Normalcy: Striving to keep a routine and sense of normal life amidst hospital visits.
• Balancing Responsibilities: Juggling hospital care with work and family obligations.

It’s also important to recognize the diversity of family structures—whether you are an adoptive parent, foster parent, working parent, or any other caregiver, these challenges are universal and can impact anyone.

Emotional wellness is a crucial component of your child’s recovery process. Supporting their emotional health can significantly impact their overall well-being and speed up their healing journey. This guide aims to provide you with practical tips and valuable resources to help you support your child’s emotional wellness during their recovery, fostering a positive environment and promoting healing.

The Connection Between Emotional and Physical Health

In pediatric recovery, emotional wellness is as vital as physical health. The mind and body are deeply interconnected, and a child’s emotional state can influence their treatment, as well as their overall healing process. When children feel supported, understood, and emotionally secure, their bodies are more likely to respond positively to treatments and recover more quickly. Additionally, building trust can help ensure open communication on both ends, which can be really important when going through transitions and vocalizing any concerns.

Common Emotional Challenges During Illness and Recovery

During illness and recovery, children often face a range of emotional challenges, including:

• Fear and Anxiety: Worries about medical procedures, pain, and the hospital environment.
• Sadness and Frustration: Feelings of loss related to missing school, friends, and regular activities.
• Isolation: Feeling alone or disconnected from family and friends during hospital stays.
• Behavioral Changes: Increased tantrums, withdrawal, or regressive behaviors as a response to stress.

Understanding and addressing these emotional challenges can help create a more supportive environment for your child, ultimately helping with their overall recovery.

Practical Tips for Parents to Support Their Child’s Emotional Wellness

General Tips for Different Age Groups

Infants (0-2 years)

• Be Present: Spend as much time as possible at your child’s bedside; hold, rock, and soothe them to provide comfort.
• Comfort Items: Bring your child’s favorite items from home to create a familiar environment.
• Safe Space: Keep the crib or bed as a safe zone, free from treatments and medical equipment.
• Maintain Routine: Try to maintain a consistent schedule for naps and meals to provide stability.
• Playtime: Allow daily time for play and exploration, offering choices and colorful toys to engage them.

Toddlers (3-5 years)

• Simple Explanations: Provide clear, honest explanations of medical procedures, reassuring them that they did not cause their illness.
• Emotional Support: Comfort your child when they are upset using favorite toys, hugs, or singing. Communicate what helps them feel better to the staff.
• Choices: Offer simple choices, like how they would like to take their medicine, to give them a sense of control.
• Express Feelings: Encourage appropriate expression of emotions through talking, drawing, or physical activities like punching a pillow.
• Medical Play: Engage in medical play to help them rehearse experiences and develop coping skills while maintaining daily routines as much as possible.

Adolescents (6-12 years)

• Detailed Explanations: Provide honest, detailed explanations about their treatment and what to expect. Involve them in discussions about their care.
• Educational Support: Bring educational games, books, and activities to keep their minds engaged. Arrange visits, phone calls, and letters from friends to maintain social connections.
• Emotional Support: Help your child identify and express their feelings. Provide time for play and fun each day to balance their routine.

Teenagers (13-18 years)

• Respect and Inclusion: Respect their privacy and include them in discussions about their treatment plan. Understand some reluctance in talking about all thoughts and feelings. Allow your teen private time with the medical team.
• Social Connections: Facilitate interaction with peers, both in-person and online. Arrange visits from friends and family to support their social needs.
• Hobbies and Interests: Bring items related to their hobbies to keep them engaged. Encourage journaling or other forms of self-expression to help them process their emotions.

Tips Based on Reason for Visit

Surgery

For Babies:

• Maintain Routine: Keep routines the same the day before surgery and ensure everyone is well-rested.
• Stay Calm and Loving: Use a relaxed voice, give plenty of love, and bring comfort items like a pacifier or favorite blanket.
• Manage Stress: Take care of yourself as babies can sense and react to your stress level.

For Toddlers and Young Children:

• Communicate and Reassure: Tell toddlers one to two days before, and older children three to four days before. Use books and videos to explain the process and assure them that surgery is not a punishment.
• Role-Playing: Let them act out the surgery on a doll or stuffed animal to address their fears.
• On Surgery Day: Allow them to bring a favorite comfort item and reassure them that you’ll be nearby.

For Teens:

• Early Involvement: Discuss surgery as soon as the decision is made, and involve them in planning. Encourage them to list questions and make choices.
• Honest Communication: Discuss fears openly and build trust by being honest. Assure them about the role of the anesthesiologist.
• On Surgery Day: Bring comfort items like handheld games or books and ensure they can stay connected with friends through visits or messages.

Chronic Illness

Conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, or congenital heart defects may require regular hospital stays for monitoring and treatment.

• Understand Your Child’s Illness and Communicate Openly

• • • Gain a good understanding of your child’s illness to set appropriate expectations and answer their questions in language they understand.

• Maintain Consistent Routines

• • • Ensure predictable daily schedules for bedtime, meals, and waking up to support your child’s stability and well-being.

• Establish Clear Expectations and Limits

• • • Set firm behavioral expectations and provide opportunities for decision-making to foster independence and emotional resilience in managing their illness.

• Use Positive Discipline

• • • Consistently use strategies that encourage appropriate behavior, including praise and encouragement for adherence to routines and treatment plans.

• Promote Treatment Adherence

• • • Support your child in following treatment plans with clear explanations, praise, and consistent consequences for non-adherence.

• Minimize Power Struggles

• • • Offer choices to empower your child and reduce conflicts over daily activities and responsibilities.

• Prioritize Self-Care

• • • Maintain a healthy diet, sleep schedule, and seek support from family and friends to enhance your ability to care effectively for your child.

• Help Your Child Cope

• • • Encourage open expression of feelings, provide distractions, promote social interactions, and maintain a positive environment to support your child’s emotional well-being.

• Collaborate With the School

• • Facilitate a smooth transition back to school, maintain communication with school staff, and ensure necessary accommodations are in place for your child’s needs.

Mental Health Treatment

Severe anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or other mental health issues that require intensive therapy and monitoring.

• Start with Empathy

Begin with non-judgmental acceptance and active listening to acknowledge your struggles. Avoid comparing experiences or offering unsolicited advice.

• Ask Open-Ended Questions

Foster dialogue by asking questions like, “What do you want me to know about what you’re going through?” This allows you to share at your own pace.

• Offer Specific Help

Instead of generic offers, suggest concrete assistance such as meal deliveries, babysitting, or running errands to lighten your load.

• Encourage Self-Care

Prioritize your own well-being with small acts like taking walks, enjoying coffee breaks, or having a night out with friends.

• Suggest Professional Support

Approach the topic sensitively by asking, “Do you feel like you have the right support in your life right now?” Emphasize the benefits of expert help without judgment.

• Create a Safe Environment

Foster trust by avoiding stigma and judgment around mental health issues. Encourage open sharing without placing blame on yourself for your child’s condition.

• Show Support Without Judgment

Be mindful of unintentional biases or judgments. Avoid suggesting solutions or asking overly directive questions that might come across as dismissive.

References:

Helping children cope with hospitalization – Child Life Program – UF Health

Preparing For Your Child’s Hospital Stay – Child Life | UCLA Health

Talking to My Child About Surgery | Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Parenting a Child With a Chronic Illness

Family Support During Mental Health Crisis | Children’s Hospital Colorado

Clymb’s Resources for Parents

Clymb offers valuable tools designed to support parents in understanding and promoting their child’s emotional wellness throughout their recovery journey. Here’s how Clymb’s resources can benefit parents:

Understanding Your Child’s Emotional State

• Gain insights into how your child is feeling through daily mood check-ins and data tracking tools.
• Stay informed about your child’s emotional health and progress, even when you’re not physically present.

Access to Wellness Content

• Provide your child with access to wellness-focused content such as mindfulness practices and coping cues that supports their emotional growth and resilience.
• Engage your child in activities and exercises designed to enhance their emotional and physical well-being.

Bringing Routine Home

• Easily integrate Clymb’s tools into your daily routines at home to reinforce emotional support.
• Use Clymb’s resources to maintain consistency and familiarity for your child, aiding in their recovery process.

Connecting with Child Life Specialists (CLS) 

• Collaborate with CLS to align support strategies and enhance your child’s emotional care plan.
• Ensure continuity of care and support your child’s emotional well-being across healthcare settings.

Clymb’s resources are designed to be user-friendly and require minimal training, allowing parents to focus more on supporting their child’s emotional needs without added complexity.

Supporting a child through illness or recovery is not a journey you have to face alone. At Clymb, we understand that it takes a village to navigate this challenging chapter. We recognize the hurdles you may encounter and are committed to helping you navigate them with compassion and resilience. Whether it’s understanding your child’s emotional needs, accessing valuable resources, or staying finding ways to create healthy screen time, we’re dedicated to providing the tools to support your child’s emotional well-being.

Together, we can make a significant difference in your child’s recovery journey. Let’s collaborate to create a nurturing environment where your child can thrive emotionally and heal physically. Remember, you’re not alone – Clymb is here to support your family through this challenging time.

Support Your Child’s Emotional Wellness

Curious to learn more about how Clymb can support your child during this time? Fill out our contact form to receive more information on our online emotional-health platform.