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Help! My Child’s in Hospital!

20 October, 202029 July, 2013 by AWCH

Help! My Child’s in Hospital: A parent’s survival guide. Practical advice for parents on preparing your child and caring for them in hospital.
By Becky Wauchope ~ Illustrations by Kaitlyn Miller

“Help! My Child’s in Hospital” is a great read if you are looking for something positive to prepare your child and family for hospital. Written in a warm, personal and easy-to-read style, Becky Wauchope describes what it is like to be in hospital and how to cope with anything from an emergency visit to a long stay and repeated visits. Her experiences with son Gus in over three years of repeated visits to hospital, have resulted in a practical and creative book. Lots of tips throughout provide starting points for children and parents to encourage coping and reduce fear. There are ideas to help keep life as normal as possible with play and some fun. The easy to follow ideas are particularly good for families with young children, Becky has many years experience as an early childhood worker. There are great tips and creative ideas to assist children and families with hospital preparation, daily life in hospital, tests and procedures, anaesthesia and surgery, medication, support and recovery.

This is a stressful time, so parents who are time poor can dip into the book and read on a topic, such as “Having an operation” and read about how to prepare and cope with fasting. Reading the book cover to cover is also a great way to gain an overview.

The book emphasises communication for parents, who know their child best, to work with health professionals for the best care. Honest conversation with your child providing the right amount of information is also a positive step. Parents can read about how to be child advocates, there are examples of steps for being prepared when talking with health professionals. Parents are encouraged to know their limits and if not able to help reduce a child’s fear or confusion then they are empowered to ask for help. Parents are a reassuring presence.

Some variations of what you may expect to find in different hospitals are covered. Parents will feel more aware and strengthened by both the information and supportive ideas. “Help! My Child’s in Hospital” highlights why preparing yourself and your child for the hospital experience is so important.

Find checklists at the back, with what to pack including Surprise packs that offer distraction. With cute illustrations, helpful layout and available for a reasonable price, this book would be a great addition to a Kindy library, hospital waiting room or public library. Copies are available for loan from the Association for the Wellbeing of Children in Healthcare (AWCH) Library and can be purchased via Becky’s website.

About the author:
The Wauchope family were about to emigrate to Australia from the UK, when Gus, the youngest of four developed severe breathing problems. This was the beginning of a three year journey through hospital readmissions in the UK and then Australia. Gus is now well and Becky has made numerous speaking engagements, run support groups and encourages people to share their stories. Find her website at: www.helpmychildisinhospital.com

Keywords: Anaesthesia; Child; Child, Preschool; Communication; Hospital preparation; Hospitalization; Medication; Parent information; Preparation for anaesthesia; Preparation for medical and surgical procedures; Routines; School children

Jillian Rattray
AWCH Librarian
July, 2013

My friend with Autism

21 October, 202030 April, 2013 by AWCH

My friend with Autism

Enhanced edition with free CD of coloring pages

Written by Beverly Bishop, illustrated by Craig Bishop

Future Horizons, Texas, 2011.

My friend with autism is written in a friendly tone and there are bright illustrations throughout. It is essentially written for school children to encourage better understanding and knowledge of peers with autism. The story is narrated from a child’s perspective and begins with “I have a friend with autism. He is good at many things”. The friend with autism is described in a positive manner and the theme of friendship is developed.

The book addresses sensory sensitivity, communication differences, playtime and provides children with an example of what this might be like for a child with autism.

The setting is at school and teachers who have this book at hand can read it to develop student understanding through the example of the narrator, “I can help him by showing him how well I sit quietly”.

Adults will be able to refer to the section at the end of the book with page-by-page notes and helpful thumbprint illustrations for further information and overview.

Find also 18 symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder, 10 Quick strategies for helping a child with Autism and Recommended reading, with thumbprints of book covers. The accompanying CD contains additional colouring pages of material from the book.

Review by:

Jillian Rattray

AWCH Librarian

April 2013

Prescription for success: supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Medical Environment

21 October, 202011 April, 2013 by AWCH

Prescription for success: supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Medical Environment

Hudson, Jill

Shawnee Mission, Kan.: Autism Asperger Pub. Co., 2006.

Written by a Child Life specialist (Play therapist) from John Hopkins Hospital, this book is essentially aimed at supporting families. It is a communication tool for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to use when visiting health professionals. The book starts with a look at the medical encounter and presents this experience from the child’s point of view. The title “Prescription for success” reflects the focus on preparation both prior to and during the child’s medical encounter.

The motivation for the book is to support children with ASD better, health professionals in hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dentists, administrative staff and others will be learn more about the children’s needs from this overview. Importantly, the book is engaging because it is written in a friendly, easy-to-read format and includes practical and creative techniques. Chapters cover the Medical encounter; characteristics of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders; developmental levels; assessment; interventions and supports (pp 49-73) and effective implementation of interventions and supports. A large section on interventions and supports will help to bridge knowledge gaps medical professionals may experience.

Find also appendices with the role of service providers as well additional resources and games to prepare for medical encounters. There is an accompanying CD with forms, activities and games worksheets which can be printed and duplicated. Illustrations are in black and white. More resources of this nature which are both family-centered and helpful for health professionals, would be welcome.

This book is available for loan from the AWCH collection at call number: 618.9285882 HUD 1

Book Review written by

Jillian Rattray

AWCH librarian

Therapeutic activities for children and teens coping with health issues

21 October, 202021 March, 2013 by AWCH

Therapeutic activities for children and teens coping with health issues
By Robyn Hart and Judy Rollins.
John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey, 2011, 379 p. ISBN 9780470555002.
Bibliography, pp 339-364. Includes CD-ROM.

“Therapeutic activities for children and teens coping with health issues” is a book richly filled with activities to assist health professionals, child life therapists, counsellors and social workers in their work with families. Activities and related information promote adaptation and coping for children, adolescents and their families in hospital or living with health issues. It is great to see so many ideas presented in an easily readable format, with over 200 practical activities to choose from.

Chapters focus on promoting understanding and coping for adolescents and children through different aspects of their healthcare experiences. Topics of the 16 chapters include separation and anxiety, self expression, socialization and help with many aspects of coping with illness. Set out in a clear way, each topic covers an overview, special considerations and coping interventions. The theoretical framework behind each topic is outlined. Activities are set out using an easy-to-read table which includes: therapeutic goals, age group, adult/child ratio, required time, restrictions and precautions and materials. You will also find an extensive bibliography (pp 339-364) as well as black and white illustrations and photographs. The accompanying CD has activity sheets and templates that can be customised.

With a great mix of theory and hands on, this book is sure to be a helpful reference tool and provide both information and inspiration. In fact I think I’ll gather up my supplies and try my hand at making a volcano.

About the authors
Robyn Hart, director of Child Life at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Judy Rollins, coordinator of the Studio G Artist in Residence Program at Georgetown University Hospital and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine. This is the second book they have worked together on, the previous award winning book is entitled, Therapeutic play activities for hospitalized children.

Keywords: Activities; Adaptation, psychology; Adolescent psychology; Bereavement; Body image; Child life; Child, hospitalised; Child psychology; Culture; Death; Families; Group work; Hospitalization; Medical art; Medical equipment; Mental health; Pain; Patients; Play therapy; Self-esteem; Self-expression; Therapeutic activities; Therapy

Awards
Winner of the American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year 2011
(Category: Maternal And Child Health)

Other titles also by Judy Rollins available for loan from the AWCH collection:
Meeting children’s psychosocial needs: across the health-care continuum / Judy A. Rollins, Rosemary Bolig and Carmel C. Mahan. Austin, Texas: Pro-ed, 2005. xv, 551 p.: Includes bibliographical references and index. Call number: 618.92 ROL 1
Core curriculum for the nursing care of children and their families / Marion E. Broome, Judy A. Rollins, Editors. Pitman, New Jersey: Jannetti Publications Inc., 1999. Call number: 610.7362 BRO 2

Review By:
Jillian Rattray
AWCH Librarian
March, 2013

Book Review: Extraordinary Parenting

21 October, 202028 February, 2013 by AWCH

‘Extraordinary Parenting’ is a helpful manual written for parents who have children with chronic physical or medical conditions. The book is set out in a readable format with clearly presented information. You will find simple illustrations, photographs and a bibliography. In addition, it is written in an Australian context.

Ordinary children are faced with extraordinary circumstances and in the book parents are given psychosocial information to support their children. Topics covered are varied and range from looking at a child’s psychological and emotional world to experiences such as hospitalisation, medication taking, sleep overs and camps or life in the school playground. Extraordinary parenting encompasses child development stages and age appropriate information for up to early teens. There is an emphasis on raising awareness of what a child and family may be experiencing whilst looking at important emotions such as anxiety, self-perception and depression. Parents are encouraged to focus on their “best intentions” rather being caught up in guilt. Find an abundance of practical information, for example throughout the manual at the end of each chapter, readers will find the heading “Psychological protection : what you can do”. Children and families can build understanding and develop skills for good self-esteem and resilience.

The author draws on her experience of over 20 years from working children, adolescents and adults in the fields of psychology, social work and literature. Dr Bruce works in private practice at the Emotional Health Centre, Cheltenham, Victoria. Extraordinary parenting can be viewed online in chapter format and/or purchased at: http://www.emotionalhealthcentre.com.au/page.php?id=557

The AWCH library holds two copies and both are available for loan.



Extraordinary parenting : protecting self-esteem and minimising depressive outcomes in pre-adolescent children who have significant medical or physical conditions (Cover title: Extraordinary parenting : a manual for parents of children aged 0-12 with chronic physical or medical conditions). Emotional Health Centre, Cheltenham, VIC. 2007, 168 p. ISBN 9780980420609. By Dr Elizabeth J. Bruce PhD, edited by Dr Cynthia L. Schultz, illustrations by Colin Bruce Subjects: Chronic diseases in children – Psychological aspects. Chronically ill children – Family relationships. Chronically ill children – Education. Chronic disease – In infancy & childhood.

Review by:

Jillian Rattray

AWCH Librarian

The Magic Number

21 October, 202012 December, 2012 by AWCH

Self discovery is a wonderful thing and I believe we are evolving as individuals every day. But often those with a chronic illness reach a particularly bad patch during their lives, one which shatters their world.

From my conversations with various other people and professionals it seems the magic number for those with complex or chronic issues is that of 20-something. You reach 20-something and your health does a belly flop and you wonder where the good days went. I myself as a 20-something year old hit my bad patch roughly two years ago and it took me almost 2 years to stabilise and come to terms with my new ‘normal’. The biggest realisation was how stressful my life actually was and how it was impacting on my already problematic health.

We live in a world which is so fast paced and over scheduled that often we forget to take the time out for ourselves (which I am very guilty of) which is so vital when you have a complex or chronic health issue. Having the ability to stop and say ‘leave me alone I need to do something for me’ is what has brought me to my new ‘normal’. For me it was a trip to Thailand before I realised that my job wasn’t helping my health amongst other things and after much anguish I made some terrifying (initially) sacrifices which in turn helped me stabilise, reduce my medication intake, become happier and less sore.

I am writing this now as with the lead up to Christmas everyone is stressed and sometimes we don’t even realise what the stressors are to remind us (including myself) all to do something each day for yourself, go for a walk, take up fencing, play with your pet, lie in the grass and look up at the clouds. If it all gets too much remember there are services you can access any time of the day or night to help you through the silly season, your health transitions and life. GP’s are a fantastic first point of contact but if your not comfortable talking to yours or you don’t have a ‘good’ GP then there are services such as below available for you.

At the end of the day we are all on this roller coaster together!

http://www.psychology.org.au/community/links/mental_health/

http://www.theshedonline.org.au/

http://au.reachout.com/

http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=107.1007

This Blog was contributed by:
Michelle Taylor
AWCH Youth Representative

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed here are solely those of the author in her private capacity. Information provided by blog contributors are not intended to replace qualified medical or other professional advise and for diagnosis, treatment and medication you should consult a health practitioner.

Help! My Child’s in Hospital!

My friend with Autism

Prescription for success: supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Medical Environment

Therapeutic activities for children and teens coping with health issues

Book Review: Extraordinary Parenting

The Magic Number

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed here are solely those of the author in her private capacity. Information provided by blog contributors are not intended to replace qualified medical or other professional advise and for diagnosis, treatment and medication you should consult a health practitioner.

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