Things you can do to make Children not Afraid of Shots - NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA News, Sports and Weather

While there is no getting around the fact that children are often afraid of shots, the good news is, there are things that can be done to help lessen the pain.

Dr. Kathy Smyth, a physician at Palmyra Medical Associates, is playing a role in her office to help improve the experience for children. 

"We have made a lot of changes recently and what we're trying to do is teach even the smallest kids that they can self-regulate," said Smyth.

Whether it's blowing on a pinwheel, playing with an iPod touch, squeezing a stuffed animal, or simply screaming out loud during the shot…Smyth says the key to taking away pain is helping children learn to control their own mind. 

While the practice works for kids, Smyth says it's also a good skill that can be carried through life. 

"You can use it for so many things. It is self regulation and it will last a lifetime." 

Dr. Smyth encourages parents to work with their kids at home, and hopefully, if they do better the next time they get a shot, she says to make sure to acknowledge their good work. 

"When they finish, we'll say look what you did. And they did do it. They did it with their mind; we didn't do it for them." 

For more information on this topic, call Health Connection at (434) 654-7009. 

If you have a question you'd like us to answer, email us at healthquestions@nbc29.com.