"I Like to Be Told"

"...I like to be told
If it's going to hurt
If it's going to be hard
If it's not going to hurt
I like to be told.

I trust you more and more
Each time that I'm finding
These things to be true..."

From the song "I Like to be Told"

In the Neighborhood series, there are several episodes which help prepare children for medical experiences that can be frightening -- getting an immunization, going to the dentist, going to the doctor, having an eye examination, and riding in an ambulance. These Neighborhood programs can be especially reassuring to children, letting them know what to expect with explanations they can understand.

No one likes to be probed and poked, especially young children whose eyes and mouths are such important organs for learning about the world. But when children know ahead of time what's going to happen -- and what will not happen -- they can prepare themselves for what's coming. They don't feel so helpless and are better able to cope. They are also more likely to approach those experiences with dignity and renewed trust for the adults who helped them.

Here are some ways Mister Rogers prepares the children:

Talking Ahead of Time

• Before he leaves his television house to go to the doctor or dentist, Mister Rogers talks about where he's going, sometimes showing photographs or medical equipment or mentioning something about the experience.
• At the check-up, Mister Rogers invites the viewing children to watch. As observers, they come to the experience with lower anxiety. Then the children's energies are more available for listening and watching, and so they are better able to process what they see and hear.
• Rather than taking for granted that children understand what is happening, Mister Rogers gives the doctor or dentist the opportunity to explain the examination or procedure, step by step. He also gives them opportunities to show that they care about children.

Encouraging Play

While giving a pretend injection to a rag doll on the immunization program, Mister Rogers tells children that playing about such things -- before and after -- helped when he was a boy. When children play, they are not helpless "victims" -- they are in control. Encouraging children to do a rehearsal through their play is a way for them to go over and over the situation and be better able to master their feelings and cope with dignity.

Talking about Feelings

All through the Neighborhood series, Mister Rogers gives children permission to talk about their feelings, especially those feelings that are difficult. When children can say something like "That hurt," or "That was scary," or "I don't like that," they are more likely to manage their feelings, rather than let those feelings out in destructive ways.

In Child Care

As a child care provider, you can help children deal with medical situations by being responsive when children or their families mention having a medical or dental exam. Those are teachable moments, when you can offer play medical kits and books with photos or pictures about such visits. Remember, too, it's just as important to encourage children to talk and play about those kinds of experiences afterwards as beforehand.

Back to Theme