Going to the hospital can be a frightening experience for a child. But you can minimize your child's fears by preparing him or her for the visit ahead of time. The more your child knows about what is going to happen, the less scared he or she will be. Tell your child what to expect in language he or she can understand. Remember that your presence will be the most reassuring thing to your child.

If your child is scheduled to have a non-emergency procedure, ask your doctor if the hospital has a program designed to educate parents and children about what to expect. You may be able to visit the hospital, see the ward where your child will be, and meet the people who will care for your child. Ask if you can stay with your child during the procedure or overnight. If the hospital does not allow this and it is important to you, talk to your doctor, who may be able to refer you to a specialist at a different hospital.

Many children have misconceptions about hospitals based on what their friends have told them or from television or the movies. Try to clear up these misconceptions before they become exaggerated. Don't wait for the child to ask questions because he or she probably doesn't know what to ask. Explain the following points before your child goes into the hospital:

? Why he or she needs to go to the hospital Make sure your child under stands that entering the hospital is not some form of punishment.

? What will be done Describe exactly which body part is going to be fixed by pointing it out on the child's body?

? How the procedure is done Explain the procedure itself as clearly as you can. But choose your words carefully. For example, when talking about anesthesia, don't use the phrase "put to sleep." Your child may recall what happened to the family pet.

? When you will be there Knowing when to expect you at the hospital will help make your child less disappointed if you are not there at a particular time.

? What to expect after the procedure. Tell your child if he or she is going to be in pain after the procedure but explain that medicine will make it hurt less.

? When the child can expect to go home. Your child will be reassured by the reminder that he or she can return home soon.

Your child depends on you, so you need to do everything possible to stay with him or her at the hospital and provide comforting reassurance. Some hospitals have special rooms for the child and parent or a ward with cubicles that have both adult beds and cribs. Others can provide only a folding bed or chair. Makes sure that at every moment the child feels that you are close by. Children need a parents support, comfort and love. This is more so during hospitalization because a child ends up seeing many ?strangers? and they are generally unfamiliar with their surroundings.