Why preparation, play, and emotional support are key to child-centred healthcare

When children face medical procedures or hospital visits, feelings of anxiety and uncertainty are common—especially for those who are neurodivergent or have had difficult healthcare experiences in the past.

Dr Vicky Queralt is a clinical psychologist who earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Birmingham. Throughout her career, she has gained extensive experience working with children, young people and their families. Through her work, Vicky combines clinical knowledge, behavioural science, and creative solutions to develop tools that reduce anxiety and empower children during their healthcare journeys.

Why is it important to support preparation and emotions in healthcare settings?

Supporting both preparation and emotions in healthcare settings is crucial, as medical procedures can be anxiety-inducing for anyone, especially children who are neurodivergent or have had negative past experiences. At Little Journey, we’ve learned through research, personal experience, and feedback from families that these situations can often feel overwhelming.

Preparation plays a key role in reducing fear and uncertainty, empowering children and their families by helping them understand what to expect—whether through playful activities, hospital tours, or simple explanations of procedures.

Equally important is emotional support, which might include fun distractions to ease anxiety, calming techniques to manage worries or tools that encourage open communication with healthcare providers to address individual needs.

Little Journey also emphasises strengthening the bond between children and their caregivers, offering shared activities that provide opportunities to express feelings, discuss concerns, and foster compassion. Together, these resources aim to create a more positive and less stressful healthcare experience for children and their families.

Studies have shown the positive impact of Little Journey's preparation and emotional support for families and hospitals.

From a psychology perspective, what makes a good resource for supporting children through healthcare journeys?

From a psychological perspective, effective resources for supporting children through healthcare journeys are built on a foundation of clinical expertise, evidence-based research, and established guidelines.

At Little Journey, behaviour change theories and models are applied to guide the development of solutions. For example, the COM-B model¹ is used to identify barriers that children and families face in medical settings, allowing for the design of tailored interventions that address these challenges and promote a more positive healthcare experience.

Every resource Little Journey creates is grounded in behaviour change techniques, with a clear purpose and a focus on measurable outcomes. Key questions guide development, for example:

• Will this solution engage children and families, helping them feel confident and prepared for medical procedures?
• Does it support families in managing emotions and coping effectively during the healthcare journey?
• Will it help foster supportive relationships that promote coping and trust?

Little Journey also ensures that content is engaging and relatable by offering playful, customisable characters—both animals and humans—within the digital app to make the experience enjoyable and supportive.

Little Journey also draws on principles from self-determination theory² to ensure that content is relatable, and engaging, and fosters autonomy. For example, by offering playful character choices—animals or humans—within the digital app, the experience becomes more enjoyable and supportive.

What kinds of materials or resources would you recommend to support the preparation process?

Preparing children and their families for medical procedures is most effective when a variety of resources are available to meet their unique needs and preferences. Here are some examples:

• Digital animation tours can familiarise children with what to expect in an engaging and accessible way.
• Role play offers a playful approach to explaining procedures, allowing children to express concerns and ask questions in a safe environment.
• Teaching coping strategies, such as self-soothing techniques or ways to distract themselves during the procedure, can also be incredibly helpful.
• Simple tools like checklists can reduce feelings of overwhelm and promote a sense of readiness.
• Planning rewards for after the procedure can boost motivation and give children something positive to focus on, helping to make the experience more manageable and less stressful.

What is your role in creating these materials?

The development of Little Journey’s resources is a collaborative process, drawing on the unique expertise and perspectives of the team. Clinical psychologists bring a deep understanding of psychological theories, evidence-based research, and interventions to support paediatric anxiety. Insights from families, with their firsthand experiences of navigating healthcare with children, provide an essential user-centred perspective. The team also evaluates and refines resources to ensure their effectiveness, combining expertise from researchers, play specialists, designers, and content writers. This collaborative and multidisciplinary approach ensures that every resource is thoughtfully designed to support children and families through their healthcare journeys.

How do you hope materials like ours will shape procedure preparation within paediatric healthcare going forward?

Preparation resources and play-based activities have the power to transform paediatric healthcare by making the unfamiliar feel less intimidating. Through play, children can process emotions, build coping skills, and rehearse scenarios, fostering confidence and a sense of control.

Looking ahead, resources like those created by Little Journey have the potential to redefine paediatric healthcare by promoting a more child-centred and compassionate approach. By normalising preparation and emotional support, these tools can ensure that every child feels seen, their unique needs understood, and their preferences accommodated, making healthcare experiences more positive and less daunting for children and families alike.

Explore our library of free playful preparation resources.

Support your patients ahead of their procedure by implementing Little Journey within your organisation, book a demo!

Reference:

(1)Michie S, van Stralen M.M, West R. (2011) The behaviour change wheel: a new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions. Implement Sci. 2011 Apr 23;6:42

(2) Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2012). Motivation, personality, and development within embedded social contexts: An overview of self-determination theory. In R. M. Ryan (Ed.), Oxford Handbook of Human Motivation (pp. 85-107). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.