The science behind prep
New experiences can feel big when you’re little. So can familiar ones that were hard last time.
ReadySetPrep gives you a starting point for talking through those moments together — with real photos, simple language and a step-by-step look at what may happen.
Start with understanding
In children’s healthcare, Child Life Specialists use explanations suited to a child’s age, pictures and play to prepare children for medical experiences. The American Academy of Pediatrics describes preparation that also welcomes questions, makes room for feelings and involves caregivers.[1]
These principles offer a useful starting point for our approach: give children information they can understand, and space to explore it with someone they trust.
Make it something they can see
Research with toddlers has shown that children can copy actions with real objects after learning about them in a picture book. Their success varied with age and how the pictures were represented.[2]
Our books use real photographs to show the people, places and objects involved in an experience. They give you and your child something concrete to look at and talk about together.
Follow your child’s lead
Whether you’re preparing for a first haircut or returning to the dentist after a difficult visit, start with your child.
Read at their pace. Pause at a picture. Ask what they notice. Listen to what they remember or wonder about. There’s room to revisit a page, act something out together or put the book down and return later.
Real experiences may differ from the book. Talk about those differences, and check medical details with your child’s care team.
About the research: The sources below explore children’s learning and preparation. They do not test ReadySetPrep books or guarantee how any child will feel or respond.
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