Resources for children developmentally 1 - 3 yrs
undergoing medical care/ healthcare experiences
Read.
Read to your child and promote their sense of literacy and language. Read books about body parts and visiting the doctor to support children who are undergoing medical treatment.
The Surprising (and Scientifically Proven) Benefit of Reading to Toddlers
Book of the Month: From Head to Toe, by Eric Carle
Watch.
Each other! Encourage family members to sing songs, read books, and use expressive language to tell stories via video chat if they are unable to visit. Reach out to Child Life or Music therapy to help you or family members record voices to help comfort your baby when you need to step away from the bedside.
Do.
Bring comfort from home: familiar music, blankets, books, favorite toy/stuffed animal, and /or photos to help encourage a sense of familiarity and routine.
Create an environment that fosters routine and continuity by maintaining a daily schedule of normal sleep and awake patterns.
Provide physical and verbal reassurances
Allow your child’s growing independence by encouraging involvement in daily activities (i.e. dressing, feeding, etc.).
Provide developmental growth and language opportunities through play.
Develop your toddler’s language by adding to their words thoughts, feelings by encouraging them to tell you what they are experiencing
Give your toddler attention and praise when they follow instructions or display positive behaviors
Introduce medical play – Ask toddler to find objects, name body parts, play with a plastic medical kit and read books about going to the hospital. (be careful introducing small items due to choking hazard)
Screen-time for children 1 - 3 years old.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children younger than 18 months, avoid the use of screen media other than video-chatting. Parents of children 18 to 24 months of age who want to introduce digital media should choose high-quality programming, and watch it with their children to help them understand what they're seeing. For children ages, 2 to 3 years, limit screen use to 1 hour per day of high-quality programs. Parents should co-view media with children to help them understand what they are seeing and apply it to the world around them.
I Can. You Can.
Developmental Support for children developmentally 1 - 3 years old (printable).
