Resources  email page print page Basic Information An Overview of Child Developmental Theories An Overview of Child Development TheoriesDevelopmental ChannelsChild Development Stages vs. Continuous DevelopmentDevelopmental Stages and Milestones of Child Development Sensitive Periods in Child Development Major Child Development Theories and TheoristsSigmund Freud and Child Development Erik Erikson and Child Development Lawrence Kohlberg and Child Development Jean Piaget and Child Development Urie Bronfenbrenner and Child Development Child Development Overview Summary Infants: Parenting and Child Development Child and Adolescent Development Overview Early Childhood: Parenting and Child Development Child and Adolescent Development Overview More Information Academic Effects of After-School ProgramsAnxiety Disorders in Children and AdolescentsAttachment TheoryBullying in Early Adolescence: The Role of the Peer GroupBullying in SchoolsChild and Adolescent Mental HealthChildhood Psychiatric Symptoms and AngerComputers and Young ChildrenGIRL POWER! Is Good Mental HealthHelping Middle School Students Make the Transition into High SchoolJohn BowlbyLasting Benefits of Preschool ProgramsLoneliness in Young ChildrenParents and Teenagers: Always Battling?Robert Kegan's Awesome Theory of Social MaturitySkipping A Year: When Retention Is Recommended, What Should Parents Do?Student Mobility and Academic AchievementTelevision Violence: Content, Context, and ConsequencesThe Transition to Middle SchoolVideo Games and ChildrenWarning SignsWhat Made George Lose His Curiosity?Wise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Anita Remig, Ed.D. on Child DevelopmentWise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Jeff Bernstein, Ph.D. on Defiant ChildrenYour Child and Medication Latest News Health Tip: Determining Migraines in ChildrenToddlers, Obese Kids Suffer Most From SmokeViagra Helpful for Children With Heart DefectTeen Girls at Higher Risk for STDs: ReportChild Food Allergies on the Rise in U.S.Experts Urge School Screening of Athletes' HeartsAnother Swine Flu Vaccine Approved for ChildrenEarly Interventions Can Cut Teen Pregnancy RatesFolic Acid Late in Pregnancy Tied to Asthma in KidsMany Kids Feel Threatened in the ClassroomAdolescent Sex and Alcohol Interventions AssessedDyslexia May Make It Tough to Tune Out School NoiseHealth Tip: Sources of Childhood StressPost-Surgical Pain in Children Can Be Effectively ManagedHandwriting Skills May Lag in Kids With AutismHealth Tip: Recording Your Child's Medical HistoryBad-Behaving Teens May Be Living Up to ExpectationsBinge Drinking Puts the Brain, and Life Itself, at RiskSchool Violence Drops With Federal ProgramAdherence Linked to Glycemic Control in Youth With DiabetesExercise Can Help Improve Insulin Sensitivity in Teens17,000 Child Deaths Linked to Lack of InsurancePreventive Antibiotics Help Some Kids Fend Off Urinary InfectionsLet Kids Sleep Late on Weekends to Fight Fat: StudyEven Light Smoking Affects Young Adults' ArteriesToxins Make Halloween Face Paints ScaryTreat Kids to a Safe Halloween6 Million U.S. Kids Lack Enough Vitamin DDrug Use in Teens May Damage Memory Years LaterHealth Tip: Signs of an Asthma Attack in Your ChildMost H1N1 Hospitalizations Are in Young PatientsSeasonal Flu Vaccine Approved for ChildrenSchool Meals Need to Get Healthier: ReportClues to Hypertension in Kids May Be Seen in BonesStudy Confirms Benefits of Belt-Positioning Booster SeatsMercury Levels Not Abnormal in Autistic ChildrenCDC Says New Child Deaths Raise H1N1 Beyond EpidemicTake the Sting Out of Your Child's Flu ShotsVideo Games Can Play Havoc With Kids' JointsRace, Insurance May Affect Testing of Kids in ER11 More Children Die From Swine Flu: CDCAbdominal Pain Common in Childhood, AdolescenceTylenol May Weaken Effectiveness of Kids' VaccinesPhone Counseling Helps Teens Quit SmokingH1N1 Has Made Many Young Adult Patients Critically IllGuided Imagery Program Can Help Ease Children's Belly PainA Little Cash Buys a Lot of Calories at the Corner StoreWant Leaner Kids? Parents May Need to Toe the Line76 Children Dead From Swine Flu: CDCHealth Tip: Choosing a Safe Halloween Costume Questions and Answers Are my past sexual fantasies dangerous and unusual?A child with a bad attitudeChildren's role-play after loss. Is this an instance of denial?young teen response to death and griefAlarming childhood issuecan 7-yo boy have antisocial personality disorder?Self esteemI\'m in love with my therapistgender hatredIs this a eating disorder ? Blog Entries Parents and Teenagers: Always Battling?Child Abuse PreventionBorrowing Babies: Great Practice or Exploitation of the Powerless?On Returning to School and Our NationEducation, Critical Thinking and Racial HatredSummer Vacation, Children and AdolescentsCheating vs. Values and Ethics: High School SportsTeenage Self InjuryHeath Ledger: Drugs Equal DeathAn Interview with Annie Fox, M.Ed. on Parenting 21st Century TeensUpdated Childhood Mental Disorders and IllnessesTopic CenterNew Child Development and Parenting Documents!Criminalizing Distrubed Young OffendersAn Interview with Tony Madrid Ph.D. on the Relationship between Broken Maternal-Infant Bonds and AsthmaAn Additional Comment About ADHD, It's Really RealAn Interview with Amy J. L. Baker, Ph.D. on Parental Alienation SyndromeADHD, It's Really RealChildhood Psychiatric Symptoms and AngerDrugs, Kids and Popular SongsA Combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy & Antidepressant Medication Works Best for Depressed AdolescentsTeenagers and Sleep, How to Help?What Made George Lose His Curiosity?An Interview with Joanie Gillispie Ph.D. on Cyber.Rules: What You Really Need to Know About the InternetOn the Importance of FathersSeparation Anxiety: A Normal Occurrence for Small ChildrenYoung Adolescence, Twelve to Fourteen Years OldAn Interview with John C. Fleming MD on Preventing AddictionsThe Empty Nest, Or Is It?Correlation: Siblings and Depression?Boys and Eating DisordersThe Politics of Divorce: When Children Become PawnsAn Interview with Anita Remig, Ed.D. on Child DevelopmentTeenagers, Their Brains are DifferentAn Interview with Jeff Bernstein, Ph.D. on Defiant ChildrenViolence and Trauma: Virginia Tech, April 16, 2007Helicopter ParentsThe Negative Consequences of Sexualization of GirlsThe Sexualization of Girls and the Development of Emotional ProblemsSeparation Anxiety DisorderRobert Kegan's Awesome Theory of Social MaturityGood News, Bad News: Drug Abuse NowNew Infant Safety/Enrichment Material Added To ParentingTeenagers and Suicide: What to Look forBeing Gay: A Life Style Choice?How We KnowNew Infant Development article posted todayThe brain's cortex matures faster in intelligent kidsWarning Signs Videos Does Your Child Have the Flu or Just a Cold VideoChildhood Phobias and Anxieties VideoIf I Had - A Child With Sudden Mood or Anxiety Symptoms Video If I Had - A Child With Asthma VideoTeen Suicide: Too Young To DieInjury Prevention for Five- to Eight-Year-Olds: On the StreetTreatment Options for Children with ADHDClean Kids: Hygiene Tips for ParentsCold and Flu Smarts for KidsInjury Prevention for Five- to Eight-Year-Olds: At PlayInjury Prevention for Five- to Eight-Year-Olds: At HomeVomiting and Diarrhea: How Sick is Your Child?Pneumococcal Vaccine for ChildrenThe Back-to-School Physical: Why Does it Matter?Portrait of a Child with EpilepsyTreatment Options for Children with EpilepsyHead Smarts: A Young Biker's StoryMonsters in the Closet: Bedtime Basics for ParentsInjury Prevention for One to Two-Year-Olds: Outside the HomeAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Tips for Parents and TeachersDisaster Images on TV: Should Your Children Watch?Injury Prevention in Preteens: At PlayHelping Overweight ChildrenTreatment of Asthma in Children 5-12Kids and AllergiesAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: What Every Parent Should KnowDiagnosing Childhood ADHDA Special Place for Kids with ADHDIs Your Child Depressed?Asthma in Kids Under 5Asthma in Adolescents: Dealing With New ChallengesHelping Kids With ADHD Succeed in SchoolTreating ADHD During the School YearDoes Your Child Have ADHD?ADHD in ChildrenDepression in TeensToo Scared: Social Anxiety DisorderKids and GriefAnorexia Nervosa Video Links [15] Articles[25] Associations[5] Community[1] FAQs[13] Government[110] Information[32] Journals[1] Other Sites[1] Research[14] Services[3] Software[1] Tutorials[39] Videos Book Reviews 100 Things Guys Need to Know3 NBS of Julian DrewA Guide to Asperger SyndromeA Tribe ApartA User Guide to the GF/CF Diet for Autism, Asperger Syndrome and AD/HDA Walk in the Rain With a BrainAdolescent DepressionAfterAggression and Antisocial Behavior in Children and AdolescentsAll Alone in the UniverseAmelia RulesAmericaAnother PlanetAntisocial Behavior in Children and AdolescentsArtemis FowlAssessment and Treatment of Childhood Problems, Second EditionAutistic Spectrum DisordersBad GirlBetween Two WorldsBeyond AppearanceBeyond Diversity DayBig Mouth & Ugly GirlBill HensonBipolar DisordersBody Image, Eating Disorders, and ObesityBody Image, Eating Disorders, and Obesity in YouthBoyBoysBrandedBreaking PointBreathing UnderwaterBringing Up ParentsBullying and TeasingCan't Eat, Won't EatCatalystChild and Adolescent Psychological DisordersChildren Changed by TraumaChildren with Emerald EyesChildren’s Dreaming and the Development of Consciousness City of OneConcise Guide to Child and Adolescent PsychiatryConquering the Beast WithinContentious IssuesCrackedCutDancing in My NuddypantsDemystifying the Autistic ExperienceDescartes' BabyDilemmas of DesireDirtyDoing ItDoing SchoolDying to Be ThinEating an ArtichokeEducating Children With AutismElijah's CupEllison the ElephantEmerald City BluesEmotional and Behavioral Problems of Young ChildrenEvery Girl Tells a StoryFast GirlsFeather BoyFiregirlForever YoungFreaks, Geeks and Asperger SyndromeFreewillGeography ClubGeorgia Under WaterGirl in the MirrorGirlfightingGirlsourceGirlWiseGLBTQGood GirlsGoodbye RuneGranny Torrelli Makes SoupGrowing Up GirlHandbook for BoysHealing ADDHeartbeatHelping Children Cope With Disasters and TerrorismHelping Parents, Youth, and Teachers Understand Medications for Behavioral and Emotional ProblemsHollow KidsHow Children Learn the Meanings of WordsHow to Keep Your Teenager Out of Trouble and What to Do If You Can'tHug MeIntrusive ParentingIt's Me!It's Perfectly NormalJake RileyJoey Pigza Swallowed the KeyJuvenile-Onset SchizophreniaKeeping the MoonKilling MonstersKim: Empty InsideKnocked Out by My Nunga-NungasLaura Numeroff's 10-Step Guide to Living with Your MonsterLearning About School ViolenceLeo the Lightning BugLet Kids Be KidsLiberation's ChildrenLife As We Know ItLisa, Bright and DarkLittle ChicagoLord of the FliesLoserLove and SexLove That DogManicMastering Anger and AggressionMind FieldsMiss American PieMom, Dad, I'm Gay.MonsterMore Than a LabelMyths of ChildhoodNew Hope for Children and Teens with Bipolar DisorderNo Two AlikeNot Much Just Chillin'Odd Girl OutOdd Girl Speaks OutOf Mice and MetaphorsOn the Frontier of AdulthoodOne Hot SecondOne in ThirteenOphelia SpeaksOphelia's MomOur Journey Through High Functioning Autism and Asperger SyndromeOut of the DustOvercoming School AnxietyParenting and the Child's WorldParenting Your Out-Of-Control TeenagerPediatric PsychopharmacologyPeriod PiecesPhobic and Anxiety Disorders in Children and AdolescentsPINSPraising Boys WellPraising Girls WellPretty in PunkPrincess in the SpotlightProblem Child or Quirky Kid?Psychotherapy As PraxisPsychotherapy for Children and AdolescentsRaising a Self-StarterRaising BlazeRaising Resilient ChildrenReclaiming Our ChildrenRedressing the EmperorReducing Adolescent RiskRethinking ADHDReweaving the Autistic TapestryRineke DijkstraRitalin is Not the Answer Action GuideRunning on RitalinSay YesSexual Teens, Sexual MediaShooterShort PeopleShould I Medicate My Child?Skin GameSmackSmashedStaying Connected to Your TeenagerStick FigureStoner & SpazStop Arguing with Your KidsStraight Talk about Your Child's Mental HealthStrong, Smart, & BoldStudent DepressionSurvival Strategies for Parenting Children with Bipolar DisorderSurviving OpheliaTaking Charge of ADHD, Revised EditionTaming the Troublesome ChildTargeting AutismTeaching Problems and the Problems of TeachingTeen Angst? NaaahThat SummerThe American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook Of Child And Adolescent PsychiatryThe Arctic IncidentThe Bipolar ChildThe Buffalo TreeThe Bully, the Bullied, and the BystanderThe Carnivorous CarnivalThe Depressed ChildThe Developing MindThe Dragons of AutismThe Dream BearerThe Dulcimer Boy The Einstein SyndromeThe EpidemicThe Eternity CubeThe Explosive ChildThe Field of the DogsThe First IdeaThe Identity TrapThe Inside Story on Teen GirlsThe Little TernThe Mean Girl MotiveThe Men They Will BecomeThe Myth of LazinessThe New Gay TeenagerThe Notebook GirlsThe Nurture AssumptionThe Opposite of InvisibleThe Order of the Poison OakThe Other ParentThe Present Moment in Psychotherapy and Everyday LifeThe Real Truth About Teens and SexThe Rise and Fall of the American TeenagerThe Secret Lives of GirlsThe Sex Lives of TeenagersThe Shared HeartThe Spider and the BeeThe StepsThe Thought that CountsThe Unhappy ChildThe Vile VillageThe Whole ChildThen Again, Maybe I Won'tTherapy with ChildrenThings I Have to Tell YouTouching Spirit BearTrauma in the Lives of ChildrenTreacherous LoveTrue BelieverTwistedUnhappy TeenagersWay to Be!We're Not MonstersWhat about the KidsWhat Would Joey Do?What's Happening to My Body? Book for BoysWhat's Happening to My Body? Book for GirlsWhen Nothing Matters AnymoreWhen Sex Goes to SchoolWhen Your Child Has an Eating DisorderWhere The Kissing Never StopsWhose America?Why Are You So Sad?WinnicottWorried All the TimeYes, Your Teen Is Crazy!You Hear MeYoung People and Mental HealthYour Child, Bully or Victim?

Community Talk about this issue in our mental health support community

Related Topics ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Parenting Child Care Child Development and Parenting: Infants Child Development and Parenting: Early Childhood Mental Disorders Autism ADHD Alcohol & Substance Abuse Anxiety Disorders Bipolar Disorder Conversion Disorders Depression (Unipolar) Depression Primer Disorders of Childhood Eating Disorders Dissociative Disorders Impulse Control Disorders Internet Addiction Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Personality Disorders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Schizophrenia Sexual Disorders Suicide & Self-Harm Tourettes and other Tic Disorders Medical Disorders Alzheimers And Other Dementias Cancer Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Colds and Flu Crohns Disease / Irritable Bowel Diabetes Epilepsy Heart Disease High Blood Pressure Memory Problems Men's Health Multiple Sclerosis Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sleep Disorders Stroke Women's Health Wellness Anger Management Emotional Resilience Exercise Smoking Stress Reduction Weight Loss Life Issues Abuse Adoption Child Care Dating Disabilities Disasters Divorce Domestic Violence and Rape Elder Care Family & Relationship Issues Grief & Bereavement Issues Pain Management Parenting Parenting Child & Adolescent Development Overview Child Development and Parenting: Infants Child Development and Parenting: Early Childhood Pregnancy Infertility Child Care Relationship Problems Self Esteem Sexuality & Sexual Problems Speech Problems Terrorism & War Healthcare Health Insurance Health Policy & Advocacy Health Sciences Mental Health Professions Treatments & Interventions Alternative Medicine Assessment Medications Psychotherapy Lifespan Development Pregnancy Child & Adolescent Development Overview Child Development and Parenting: Infants Child Development and Parenting: Early Childhood Sexuality & Sexual Problems Homosexuality & Bisexuality Aging & Geriatrics Death & Dying

SUNDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Even many adults want to run away from an injection, so it's no surprise that children will try to flee, scream, cry and make a scene when it's time for flu shots this year.

"The good news is that there are several techniques that parents can use to positively impact their child's experience when getting a needlestick -- whether it's a flu shot, a childhood vaccine, or blood work," Dr. Lonnie Zeltzer, director of the Pediatric Pain Program at Mattel Children's Hospital of the University of California, Los Angeles, said in a university news release.

advertisement

Pediatricians recommend the following ways to distract kids while getting a shot:

• Use soap bubbles to distract babies and younger children. Parents can hold a plastic bubble-making wand in front of their child's mouth and let them "blow away the hurt." For crying babies, making a bubble will give them something to focus on besides the pain.
• Try relaxation exercises. Tell older kids and teens to breathe out slowly as if they are blowing up a big balloon. Or ask children to use their imaginations to create a vision of a fun place like the beach or park.
• Apply a numbing cream or patch. Ask your doctor for a prescription and apply it to your child before you go to the office. Make sure you put it in the place where the shot will go -- the arm or the thigh.

More information

To learn about kids and the flu, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This article: Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.

Share:

Link: (Here's how to do it ... )

To link to this article:

1. Copy the HTML link code shown in the box just below.
2. Paste this HTML code into your blog or web page, into a forum post or a blog comment you make, into your Facebook feed, etc.

<a href="http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=news&id=122945&cn=28">Take the Sting Out of Your Child's Flu Shots</a>

Thank you!