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Key tips for communicating with and examining children

Major points

  • Keep using their name!
  • Make it a game (e.g. in an abdominal exam, pretend you are trying to find out what they had for breakfast and keep naming cereals)
  • Keep interacting and asking questions (e.g. โ€˜So Billy, are you missing school today?โ€™, โ€˜What lesson would you be in?โ€™, โ€˜Whatโ€™s your favourite subject?โ€™, โ€˜So is that what you want to do when youโ€™re older, Billy?โ€™)

Other tips

  • If child is crying, let them calm down and see you talking to parents/siblings
  • Involve childย wherever possible
  • Even babies like to hear aย reassuring voice
  • Befriend childย before examining
  • Position yourself at theirย level
  • Distract withย toys
  • You canย pretendย to listen with stethoscope on parentโ€™s knee and then on childโ€™s arm to reassure them; or examine a teddy
  • Useย parentsย to distract them
  • Useย simple words, e.g. hurt, sore, funny, brave
  • Undress inย stages
  • Sometimes you just need to persevere
  • Rewardย and praise themย 
  • If noisy, try using toys or bottles etc.
  • Keep checking theyโ€™re OK
  • Warm your hands before touching them

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