Gaining children's confidence - the judicious use of silliness.
Engaging children in a clinical setting is kind to the child and their family, and is a useful clinical tool. Each of us will have our own way of getting through a child's fears and defences. Tomfoolery, distraction and imaginary play can lead to a rewarding clinical interaction.
Department of General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria. michael.harari@rch.org.au
Michael D
MD
Harari
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D002666:Psychology, Child