Hero Syringe

A strategy I use when kids are terrified of needles

It’s normal for children (and many adults for that matter) to feel uneasy around needles. Uneasiness alone is not what parents hire me for.

They come to me when the uneasiness turns into a strong fear. Or needle terror.

Matteo drew himself (left) on a dentist chair. The dentist ist telling him to “grit his teeth and tough it out”

I’ve had kids that needed to be restrained by nurses to have shots administered.

They would completely lose control. Scream, kick and bite. One remarkable case, a six year old boy who had to have multiple surgeries, will get its own post shortly.

This boy’s lizard is sitting calmly on his shoulder while he is getting a shot

For needle terror, I typically start by reframing the meaning of the needle.

Eyes closed, I have the child understand that syringes save lives. That needles sting a bit for a second — but in truth, they’re heroes.

That doctors and nurses are heroes too. Doing their very best to help the kids and feeling very sorry that some things hurt a bit.

I let kids visualize and experience this. They describe to me in detail, what their “hero needles” look like. Superhero outfit, wings, muscles, healthy.

Sounds logical. But logic alone is almost never enough to move a terrified child.

This child’s drew their lizard saying “I don’t care” and even hugging the syringe

This is where the lizard comes in. It represents that small, primitive part of the brain whose entire job is to protect. Which has decided needles are mortal threats.

The shift: The child isn’t afraid. Their lizard is.

I now have the child explain to their lizard why shots are heroes.

By helping their lizard overcome the fear, they overcome the fear themselves.

Children understand this immediately.

They stop fighting the feeling.
Instead, they help their little protector update its information.

And once the lizard realizes the needle isn’t a mortal threat after all, it stands down.

The child walks into the doctor’s office with a very different feeling.

Probably not completely uneasy.

But calm enough for the shot to happen without drama. And that is huge.

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